Haven't posted in a while, but thought some would be interested...
Our oldest son is a freshman ballplayer at Saint Louis University. I finally booked round-trip air tickets for our family to watch his college team play the STL Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter FL on 2/27/08. We're flying in/out of Ft. Myers on 2/26 and 2/28 so we can pick my mom up in Naples and take her along. We're even taking our younger son (10th grade) out of school to watch his brother...it will be a family affair.
Funny thing...when it was first announced, our oldest didn't seem pleased. When I asked him why, he said he had visions of being on the mound with the announcer yelling, "Next batter, Albert Puuuuujols!" Last weekend I asked him if he was still nervous and he said, not as much...he was told they could pitch from behind an "L" screen if they wanted (throw, duck...throw, duck)!
Over the course of several years, I took both boys to watch Cards games in Jupiter. To think of one of them getting to step on that same field AS A PLAYER (even as a college player who may not actually get in the game) was beyond my wildest dreams. It will be a very special moment for my family.
For anyone who has doubts about the demands baseball can make on a family in time, travel and expense, let me tell you...it was worth every minute, every mile and every dollar. I feel I'm doubly blessed because I also have a fine ballplayer (and young man) still living at home in my younger son.
If any of you can make it, please stop and say "hi" to a grey-haired, over-weight guy wearing a blue SLU hat (whose red-headed wife is yelling at him to "pipe-down")...looking like his heart is about to climb out of his chest!!!
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