Saturday night I went to the Nats game with my parents to meet up with my "Spring Training Boyfriend" Ron, Manny Acta's father-in-law. We became friends during my trip to Fla. for spring training. He's a very nice, very funny, 84-year-old baseball nut who started referring to me as his "girlfriend". We had made plans to meet up in DC to see a Nats game. I have been pestering Mark the whole season, "you gotta tell me when Ron's coming to town. Ask Manny when his father-in-law's going to be here! I want to see my friend again." So, finally, we managed to make plans to meet up at Saturday night's game. I invited my parents to come along, too.
Mom and Dad and I were going to meet up at RFK and take the shuttle to Nats Park, but we discovered that there was a soccer game going on, so I decided to drive to the ballpark and try to find a parking space somewhere nearby. I didn't have enough cash, so I ended up making an emergency stop at the 7-Eleven on S. Capitol St. As I was coming out of the store, a homeless woman asks me for money. I hurriedly handed her $5, feeling REALLY generous.
I bumped my way down the street, saw a sign for parking and turned into a lot. I asked the guy how much and he told me, "Sorry, this is the media lot." I groaned and asked, "Would it make any difference if I told you my fiancee works for the Washington Times and is here covering the game?" I smiled broadly at him. He waved me in and I proceeded to park right next to my beloved's car. As I walked out, I handed the guy $5 and told him to have a good night.
I bought tickets for my parents and me and called Ron. Ron said to meet him outside the PNC Diamond Club (the $150 seats!!), that he has a ticket for me. I waited another 10 minutes for my parents and we finally entered the stadium. We met up with Ron and they headed off to the cheap seats while I headed to the "club" with Ron. We met up with his daughter and sat down to watch the game. Manny's wife and daughter and some of their friends arrived a bit later. After a couple innings, Ron said to call my parents, that he could "get them in"! They came down and, of course he sweet-talked an usher into letting everyone into the good seats.
Highlights of the actual game:
Adam Dunn, the league leader in home runs, went 0-4 and I NOTICED the shift was on when he came up to the plate--probably because we were 20 rows back from the field and DIRECTLY behind home plate. The Nats came back from a 6-2 deficit and went on to win 10-6! Ronnie Belliard hit a two-run homer, Cory Kasto a two-run single to tie the game, and then Lasting Milledge hit a homer in the eighth to take the lead. In the top of the eighth, as Emilio Bonifacio made a diving throw to first, I turned to my dad and said, "That was Jeter-esque", referencing the smooth moves of the Yankees starting shortstop. Even good ole' Austin Kearn hit a two-run single to start the game off and he has been SO bad at the plate this year.
We spent most of the second half of the game standing and yelling and slapping high-fives. It was just great; and to see it all from right behind home plate was even cooler. Getting to see my friend again was the icing on the cake.
I'm convinced that all of this happened because I gave the lady outside 7-Eleven $5.
