Have I ever told you how Gary and I met? It was 1993. I had a full-time job at Meridian Bank as a secretary in Human Resources. Which is what I wanted to be when I grew up. I owned a home in the “old Polish neighborhood” of Reading because I had been married for two years and got a divorce and had some money, so I “invested” in a home for myself.
What came out of living in the city was hanging out in the bars of Reading. Remember, no judging, we all have a past and mine is covered by the blood of Christ. I started playing darts for a bar, so we frequented a bunch of bars for meets. One night I met a bar owner named Darlyn and I said…I think it would be fun to be a bartender. She actually called me and offered me a job bartending on Tuesday and Friday nights.
I knew nothing about mixing drinks but that was not a problem, this was mostly a beer or shot kinda crowd. No fru fru drink requests!
The bar was called The Whipping Post. Yes, laugh it off. I know. Hilarious, right? Anyway, Whip and Darlyn sponsored a softball team. Not like a fast pitch all female college team, a bunch of guys playing in a very competitive city league.
Gary was their new recruit, their future star. I started going to the games and, well, the rest is a 32 year history!
Part of dating a ball player is learning the game. And I loved the game. I had loved baseball all my life. I played Little League as a child, I loved the Phillies and would listen to the baseball games on the radio with my Pop. He was a Pirates fan so it was quite the ordeal when the two teams played.
Dating Gary I soon learned how to keep stats in the book and went to all of the games. He played until 1997. I was enormously pregnant, working 30 hours a week and chasing a toddler at the field and said something has to give. There was also a lot of alcohol involved but that’s another story for another day.
After Gary came to the Lord he joined a church league with Glad Tidings and those were fun years. The kids were old enough I didn’t have to tote a diaper bag and stroller. He played for a few church leagues until his rotator cuff surgery. ☹
However, after 2020, Gary lost his love of baseball. Someone at some point decided professional sports was a great platform to make political statements and push an agenda instead of just allowing fans to relax, unwind and enjoy a game.
So, here we are today. Gary has barely watched any professional sport in 6 years. But I am still a baseball fan. And, Gary loves his wife. ♥
Jumbo Shrimp
We started in April….we went to Jacksonville, Florida to a Jumbo Shrimp game. They are the Triple A Affiliate for the Miami Marlins. When we stayed in Woodbine, GA we were about 45 minutes north of JAX. We had a fun evening of baseball, snacks (Gary had ice cream, of course} and fireworks.
Jumbo Shrimp Baseball Game, Jacksonville, Florida
TC even did a short on the experience.
Columbus Clingstones
When we returned to Alabama, we took Everett and Catherine to a Columbus Clingstones game. They are the Double A Affiliate of the Braves. I wear my Clingstones shirt but with my Phillies accessories! 😊
Poppop taught Everett how to keep the book. 😊 The game started an hour late, we had a slight sprinkle during the game, but they lasted the entire night so they could see fireworks!!! Quick note - this is THE best ballpark to get ice cream. The soft serve is yummy and won’t break the bank! And I think this was my favorite fireworks show too! ♥
Keeping score at the Clingstones game. Columbus, GA
Fightin’ Phils
While in Pennsylvania my mom and I talked about going to a Fightin’ Phils game, the Double A Affiliate for the Phillies. He finally relented and got us tickets for the week we were leaving. It was a morning game. Thankfully it wasn’t gross hot. We took Mom along and even ran into her cousin and her husband. We did not have ice cream as it was lunch time. We had a jumbo dog and French fries! Both of which I recommend. ♥
Fightin’ Phils, Reading, PA
TC also did a video on the Fightin’ Phils.
Do you see the theme here – baseball is generational for us. ♥
By this point, it had become a THING!
Montgomery Biscuits
When we returned to Alabama, Gary – who says he doesn’t enjoy this at all 😉 – checked out tickets for the Montgomery Biscuits…the Double A Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.
It was their closing weekend for the season and we went on Saturday evening. It was a gorgeous evening, Montgomery is a beautiful city, we had phenomenal seats (Seat Geek!) and fireworks.
Montgomery Biscuits Baseball game, Montgomery, Alabama
TC found some wonderful history at this ballpark. Check out his video……
So, because I love to keep stats…..
That makes four Minor League baseball parks in four states in one summer!!!! YAY me!
Maybe you hate baseball. Maybe for you it is how many states you can get to the ocean. Or how many zoos you can visit or botanical gardens. I don’t know what YOUR thing is. But, have a thing. Build memories. Share them with the generations – the ones before and the ones on down the line.
Live life while you are living. ♥
“Teach us to number our days.” Psalm 90:12