Wednesday, July 14, 2010
All Star
(I was stopped at a red light. I promise.)
Me: I haven't really thought much about it, but now that I'm sitting here right in front of the stadium on game day, I'm kinda sad I didn't buy a ticket.
(Yes, I send long text messages like that. Because I'm awesome.)
(And because I hate abbreviating.)
Marc: I felt the same way on Sunday. So I bought tickets on Stub Hub.
Somehow, knowing Marc and Kristi had gotten themselves tickets to the game made me feel better. Because, as much as I really wanted to go, I was more sad to think that my brother was going to miss it. Seriously. I mean, HELLO! I was a mere two hours from going out onto the field. I definitely couldn't be upset over not having a seat for the game.
I caught the shuttle with one of my fellow flag carriers. As we walked toward the special flag holder entrance, I mentioned being a little sad I couldn't go to the game. She said, "Who knows? Miracles can still happen."
To which I answered, "Oh, I believe in miracles. But that one's definitely not going to happen tonight."
There was a whole lot of hurrying up and even more waiting. We'd been told all along that we were part of the pre-game ceremony. I set my DVR accordingly. And, thankfully, I listened to that little voice that told me to go ahead and record the game, too. Turns out, the pre-game part was the pre-game show hosted by Fox Sports or ESPN or something, and the pre-game ceremony was part of the regular game broadcast.
Anyway, at some point much later than any of us had been led to believe, and after nearly an hour of holding a 300-foot-long colossal flag that weighed about a bazillion pounds, we stepped out onto the field just like we'd practiced for days. What we didn't practice, though, was 45000 screaming baseball fans. Oh, and Derek Jeter warming up about 20 feet away and walking toward a couple of us like he was coming over to say hello.
(He didn't. Which is good, since he's a Yankee and I'm, therefore, obligated to hate him.)
We were on that field for about 27 hours in the beating down sun, holding this heavy, gigantic flag and totally, completely in awe of where we were. I stood beside the amazing Ruthe Rosen, voted by Angel fans and players to be one of 30 of People's All Stars Among Us. I'm hoping to interview her next month, so you'll learn a lot more about Ruthe and her amazingness later.
It was overwhelming and emotional and I can't even fathom a more incredible experience for a baseball fan than to be right there on the field with
(With a few glaring exceptions...)
We left the field and had to dissemble the flag for shipping back to its home in Utah. I said a few tearful good byes to Ruthe and some of the other fun people I'd spent the last five days getting to know, and then I went back to retrieve my things. Just as I picked up my cell phone, I noticed it was ringing. Kristi was calling me.
I answered, despite the fact that it was super loud in the tunnel.
"Karen. We have a ticket for you."
I am pretty sure I started screaming right then, and since I couldn't actually hear Kristi over
By the time I'd gotten outside, Marc had been texting me and told me to call him immediately.
Here's the gist of the story, as best as I've pieced it together.
Marc and Kristi were walking across the street from the parking lot to the stadium. As they approached the entrance, a man asked if they needed tickets. They said no and continued walking. But Kristi heard the man say to his friend something along the lines of, "We need to find someone to give this ticket to."
Kristi spun around immediately and asked, "Do you mean give or sell?"
"I'm giving it away."
To which Marc explained that his sister was around somewhere and didn't have a ticket. So the man gave it to Marc who spent the next hour and a half trying to get in touch with me to let me know. And that entire hour and a half, I was in a tunnel holding a gigantic, heavy American flag and being utterly clueless that when this was over I would not be heading back to my house, but into a seat to watch the game.
I met Marc at the gate, he handed me the ticket and I was shocked when I saw the price tag ($185!!!) and the section (the pavilion right behind Center Field where my beloved Torii Hunter plays). Marc said a quick peace out and ran back up to his seat in the upper deck and I began the trek to the other side of the stadium and claimed my seat beside the incredibly generous man who had given up the extra ticket.
It turns out that he had a friend who couldn't make it to the game. The friend, who is apparently quite financially comfortable, asked this man not to sell the ticket, but to find someone to give it to instead.
And I'm still crying as I think about it.
Miracles happen.
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Wow. Just when you think your day can't get much better (you're on the hallowed ground of a baseball field.. it is a field right? I'm Australian, we don't play baseball. I'm pretty sure it's not a court anyway) something as amazing as this happens.
ReplyDeleteTalk about luck!
That's a day you'll remember for a long time.
Aw! That's really awesome. I'm at work trying not to cry right now. Although, I'm surprised they didn't have some way in place for volunteers to watch the game!
ReplyDeleteWOW! That's all I can say...WOW!
ReplyDeleteYou are having an incredible sumer! You lucky girl!
WOW!!! That is AMAZING!
ReplyDeletesometimes I get jealous of all the awesome things that happen to you because if it were me, I would have gone home crying in sadness that things didn't work out. however, you're awesome and deserve it. I'm so glad that it happened for you!
ReplyDeleteWow! That's awesome.
ReplyDeleteYou weren't given a free ticket for participating? Glad you got one!
ReplyDeleteWe literally stopped and started and watched in slow mo the opening part of the game 3 times trying to find you. I kept saying "I see Karen" then "No, There she is, No- there she is". Well, I don't know if I saw you but I felt pretty special knowing that my friend was pretty much famous now:-) I'm so glad that you got to stay and watch the game! Especially cause we won:-)
ReplyDeleteMIRACLES are ALL around YOU! LOL! Your trip you're about to embark on, participating in the pre-game, the ticket! WOW! You must be living RIGHT!
ReplyDeleteBe safe on your trip and have the TIME of your LIFE! ((HUGS))
That's an awesome story! Are you doing confession wednesday today?
ReplyDeleteYes, apparently miracles do happen. This is such a great story.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story - it warmed my heart.
ReplyDeleteWOW - That is luck! You must be having one great summer :)
ReplyDeleteKarma, baby. You deserved that ticket. So glad it went to you. :)
ReplyDeleteWow that is so awesome! Good things happen to good people.
ReplyDeleteYou totally deserved it! How exciting. I have complete life envy right at the moment.
ReplyDeleteAwwww, this story gave me warm fuzzies. It seriously did.
ReplyDeleteWhat a thoughtful and generous man he is to have his friend give away his ticket to someone who needed it!!
Miracles do happen!!!
Now that's the kind of love I'm speaking of!
ReplyDelete