I am learning that some of the most pure and enjoyable moments of fatherhood are sharing my experiences with my boys. Ryland is at an age where he is ready to begin living (tasting, walking, singing, running, embracing) these experiences alongside me. Rance not so much yet (at only two weeks old… haha). But it is truly wonderful to see the world through Ryland’s almost-three-year-old-eyes.
Each week is full of new challenges to tackle together… and new experiences to live together… and new games to play together.
Chico's view from our seats @ Nats Park
In May of last year, Amanda and I took Ryland to Nationals Park to see the Nats play the New York Metropolitans. It was our first trip to the Nats Park… and it was the first time that I was able to provide Chico with a “ballpark moment” (even if it will be one that he ONLY re-lives and remembers through Amanda’s photos and my re-telling of the stories).
This Saturday, I will again be taking Ryland to a Washington Nationals exhibition game versus the (much maligned) Baltimore Orioles in DC. Ryland has been talking about it all week… asking about when we will be going (“Tomorrow Dadda?”) and whatnot. I am stoked about it… probably much more than he is… and this is mostly because I cannot wait to walk around the ballpark with him… watching the tiny-giant-men running around on the exotically manicured brown-sand diamond… playing with the blue bleacher seats that spring back to resting position with authority… smelling the ballpark smells… seeing the shockingly grass-green ballpark outfield… hearing the wooden bat crack within a moment’s delay from seeing it connect with the red-laced, white-leather ball… and eating goobers (ballpark peanuts) without worrying about the shelled-mess that we are making all over ourselves and the bleacher seats around us.
Anywho… experiencing these moments with my family is one of my favorite joys in life. Of all the great things that my Pops has passed on to me… the memories of these “ballpark moments” that he shared with me are some of the sharpest in my mind.
Here are a couple of quick “ballpark moments” that Pops has shared with me…
- Seeing Nolan Ryan pitch one of his last games at the old Rangers Stadium in Arlington. I remember Nolan playing long-toss with a football before the game… it was stunning. Unfortunately I don’t remember much about the game, but I do remember leaving the old (genuinely unattractive) ballpark after the game when it hit me that I would never again sit in that ballpark. When the thought occurred to me, we were walking on the side-walk outside of the stadium… Pops laughed and watched as I tried (with all my pudgy-strength) in vain to pry one of the enormous-yet-very-securely-welded and rusty bolts from the outside wall of the stadium. Even at thirteen (or so) I knew that I wanted a lasting memory from the experience.
- When the new Ballpark in Arlington opened the following season… we went to an exhibition game against the Cubbies. Again… I don’t remember many memories about the game itself… but I will never forget running the bases after the game with my dad, brother, and cousin (and best man) Adam.
Home Run Porch @ the Ballpark in Arlington
- In the late spring of 2007, I convened with eleven of my closest friends on the “home run porch” at the Ballpark in Arlington to partake in a ridiculous annual ritual… a fantasy football draft. This draft was different than many that we have enjoyed together… because we were at the Ballpark. Fantasy football draft at a ballpark? Yep. And it was amazing. Pops, my little brother (Derick), and I arrived early and sat together… alone… perched above the beautiful grass… in the almost-empty stadium… and talked… just the three of us. It was beautiful. Below, we could hear the hum of the riding mower as the field was being carefully mowed… and loved into submission… by one of the grounds crew with an ever-skilled sense of artistry and grass-design. Eventually the other guys arrived and we conducted our fantasy football league “business” and shared life together while we sat in a private suite (secured by the esteemed Jeremy Christopher)… over-looking the beauty of the ballpark.
These are not the only ballpark memories that I have shared with my Pops… but they are some of the most prominent… and special.
May it be so with my boys…
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.:rweaver:.
First thought, the back of Ryland’s head loooks just like you!!! I also have many ballpark memories. You were so fun to take to games. My favorite memory is when we got to the game early so you could take your cards and try to get some autographs. You were behind the dugout and you had just gotten an autograph, it was the Indians and I think it was Greg Swindell?. You turned to run back to me and Swindell started hollaring , Hey, Kid!!” As a father I began to worry, what had you said or done!! You turned around and the two of you were talking and then you yelled, “Hey dad, he wants to know what time the Simpsons come on here and what channel. I told him you don’t let me watch it.” Ha!!!!! We see them as major league bb players and they are just kids, still wanting to watch cartoons!!
I too have many ballpark memories. I will never forget the first baseball game my dad took me to, still have the ticket. It was in 1995, I was eight at the time, and my dad woke me up and said hey I have a surprise, we are going to an Orioles game. I had a blast, it was an awesome cool new experience for me. I think it is one of the reasons today why there is no other place I would rather be than a Major or Minor league ball park. I like this quote “Heaven is a game of baseball”. I know heaven really isn’t a game of baseball, but to me its as close as it gets here on Earth, haha. By the way Ryan, weren’t the Nationals the worst team in baseball last year? Haha, I do think, however, you Rangers are going to surprise some people this year.