360 Days of Sunshine, and The Boys of Summer...part 2

We dashed home for me to change from shorts into something more appropriate, grab some jackets, and fresh batteries for the camera. Luke took a nap while we quickly ran around to get on the road. One more quick stop for some food from a drive-thru and we were off. The simple jaunt from our home to Security Service Field seemed to take forever in the Friday evening traffic, but we made it. Along with what appeared to be most of the rest of Colorado Springs. We've never seen so many cars there! But we made it.

Tickets bought, we made our way to our seats....which were taken. Okay, we'll take the same seats in the back, no big deal. We got there after the game started, but in plenty of time to see Jason Giambi up for his first at bat. Poor guy, he kind of fluffed it and couldn't make it to base before being thrown out. Well, we're all rusty when we take time off, and we were happy just to get the chance to see him play.

looking around at stuff
Giambi at bat

Luke was having fun with the music, clapping and dancing as it forced its way out of the speakers. He giggled as he watched the other little ones around us having fun, too. He still can't quite understand why we can't just go out on the field and play with the guys, but he has fun watching. And he always gets a kick out of Sox the Fox, our mascot.

There was a short time that Luke did get a little bored and wanted to go for a walk. Daddy took him, and then he was fine. He came back and watched Giambi grab a base hit, saw the only run made for the Sky Sox (a home run!), and continued to dance. We could see he was still just exhausted, but he was having fun.

Sox the Fox leading the cheers

The Sky Sox lost, incidentally to the Salt Lake Bees, a team I never thought I'd be cheering against. Okay, I can justify that by saying I'm cheering against a team that isn't nearly the same as the triple-A team I grew up with. If it isn't the Salt Lake Buzz, then it's not the same team. Anyway, they beat us last night. But we had fun.

There has been some controversy in having Jason Giambi return to the game. He was kicked out for doping charges. But my thought has been this: if Michael Vick gets a second chance after felony animal cruelty, which harmed many living beings, then Giambi deserves a second chance after hurting only himself. My feelings on him deserving a second chance were heightened last night at the end of the game. The entire crowd remained to watch the fireworks, but they were slightly postponed. Security was trying to get Jason Giambi off the field so they could kill the lights, but Giambi refused to budge. He was signing autographs, trying as hard as he could to get everyone who was there with a ball, or cap, or simple piece of paper. That speaks volumes! They finally did actually grab his arm and physically pull him away.

The lights were killed, the music came up, and the fireworks began! Luke jumped, covered his ears, but smiled big the entire time. Let me add that I love fireworks. They give me such a thrill! The fact my little boy was having fun watching a show from a closer vantage point he's than he's ever been was very, very fun.

It did come time for us to make our way to our 4Runner and come on home. We obviously did not miss the crowd in the parking lot, and we obviously filed out with everyone else. It gave us a bit of time to chat. The final thing Luke said before he drifted into slumber again was music to my baseball-loving ears:

"When can we come back for more baseball?"