Happy New Year!

I attended my 29th consecutive Major League Opening Day on Friday. Gawd! Even after all these years and games, I still get excited, and I look forward to the day with great anticipation.

I loosely follow an annual ritual: Play my recording of former Fenway Park organist John Kiley's versions of The Star Spangled Banner and Take Me Out To The Ball Game (at high volume), get into town early, go out to breakfast, take in the street scene, be in line early, be one of the first people in the park. I hit all of those points, and more.

It was really great to see all of my ballpark buddies, some of whom I hadn't seen since the last Rockies game in October. It was great to enter the confines on a beautiful game day (first time I wore shorts to an O.D.) It was also swell that the home team won, more so with a 7-0 2-hit shutout of the division rival San Diego Padres.

Welcome back, baseball. You were missed!


©2010 Douglas T. Dinsmoor