This is something where allll the stars had to align so perfectly or else it wouldn't of happened.
My father belongs to the rotary club of the city which he works for. Another member of this club is the owner of the provider of the hotdogs they use at Fenway Park. Last week, they guy sent out an email, asking if someone wanted tickets to a red sox game. My father wasn’t quick enough to reply. So my father sent the guy an email, saying just that, that he wasn’t quick enough to apply but the next time to let him know. (but said a lot more nicer) A few days later the guy emailed my father and offered him tickets to the follow night's game. My father couldn’t go so he said that he had something and thanks for asking. the following day the guy asked again for the following game, and I had something so my father wrote back, thanking him for offering ...the guy wrote back saying "it is my mission to get you to a game this year" Sure enough, the guy this week offered one of two games, today's game (Saturday) or Monday's game vs the Oakland A's. It was an afternoon game and I was sure I could find some people to go with so I told my father to write back and tell him we would love to go to the game on Saturday... I had fb messaged my friend Jody, who has a son who has asperger, a high functioning form of autism. His name is Ross and he's 13 years old and then she has a daughter who's 10, her name is Gillian. I had called Jody and told her that I have 2 extra tickets would she and Ross like to go. She said yes. She had messaged me late that night, saying that Ross is very paranoid about going because of the bombers are still out there. Late afternoon I had messaged Jody, saying that I would totally understand if Ross didn’t want to go to the game but that I really really really hope they do end up going... I didn’t get back to my computer till after they captured the bomber and all the celebrations... so probably about 11pm. Jody replied that of course they want to go and that Ross is very excited to be going. She wrote that her cousin who also was going to the game had an extra ticket so Jody’s daughter got to go.
My father is the emergency management director for a city near Boston. So he has a “red car”. (with lights and sirens) He talked to Boston Fire department and asked them if he could park at the firehouse. They said no problem. (it was a 10 min walk…) Just as I planned, they got to my house by 11:30 and we were on the road by 11:45. There was very little traffic getting to the park. The funny thing… as we were coming down the streets around the park and people are walking on the streets. When they saw the red car, everyone got out of the way…lol.
My dad dropped us off, I had given my dad his ticket and we would meet him inside. Jody’s cousin wasn’t too far away so we went to the shops and they got “Boston strong” hats and the cousin was there a few moments after that. We had handed Gillian off and we were on our way to our seats. I finally handed Jody the tickets, I told her not to flip when she saw the ticket price. She said she saw when I handed my father his ticket… they were $94 EACH!
We get to our seats. It was down the left foul line, a section over from the dugout and a section back. We had 3rd row. The really cool part to these seats…there was only 4 seats to the row. (then there was a bar and 4 more seats) so we didn’t have to get up for anyone.
Pre game festivities.
There was a few minute video which someone put together, that started with the marathon, the bombing, the after mass, the police-fire-first responders helping out. All the way to last night’s celebration on the streets of Watertown.
There was a Lynn MA firefighter who was enjoying a steak meal with a bunch of his buddies on Patriots day, a custom they been doing for a few years now when he heard a “BOOM!” he told everyone to get into the kitchen and he ran out of the building and down to the blast to see what happened and how he could help. He was able to assist in helping people. (he came out to the pitching mound where he was met with a red sox jersey with his name on it)
Next was a father, who has wheeled his son in the marathon for the last 31 years. I apologize for not remembering his heroic story.
Then a man with his two buddies who were at the finish line when the bombs went off. He was thrown over a guard rail and was on fire plus had nails and other fragments all over his face, neck and chest… It would be a long recovery for this young man, however, after many and various operations over the last 5 days, he was released this morning and here he is today… (he too came to the pitching mound)
Then a number of police officers, fire fighters EMT and first responders came out.
The Governor of MA and Mayor of Boston were there too.
There was a “first pitch” by the victims to a big cheer.
We sang the national anthem, the same way the Bruin’s fans did a few nights ago at the Boston Garden…the person who was singing would start and would lower his mic, and the crowd would “take over” 37189 Boston strong.
That was beautiful.
We also had a moment of silent’s, where we were asked to remember the victims of the disaster in Texas and the victims of the earth quake in Japan this morning. (this was the first I heard of it) as well as those from the Boston Marathon Bombing
And finally, the leader of the Red sox, the player who has been wearing a RedSox jersey for the last 11 years, one who has provided so many memorable moments over the years, Big Papi, David Ortiz gave a speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGMJeVHXsL0
The game started off as a pitching duel between their ace, James Shields and one of our two aces, Clay Buccholz. Shield only gave up one run in the 6 innings he pitched, leaving the game in the 6th with the game tied. Buccholz gave up another run in the 7th and came out after the 8th, trailing 2-1 and then magic…
Every home game since 2003, in between the top and bottom of the 8th inning over the PA system, they play Neil Diamond’s “sweet Caroline”. All the fans get up and sing together. It’s fun.
Today there was a special guest to sing the song…Neil Diamond
Yes, Neil Diamond was given a mic and sang along to the PA system playing his song along with the 37000 fans. It was crazy. It was awesome.
The story behind it, Neil was in California Friday night when the suspect was captured. He flew, on his own dime, to Boston, getting to the Park about 12:30, telling the switchboard operator he wanting to sing. And of course when Neil Diamond says he wants to sing, you let him in and find a seat for him.
Going to the bottom of the 8th, with the Redsox trailing 2-1, Daniel Nava hit a 3 run home run to put the RedSox ahead 4-2, as Fenway Park went crazy!
There was some nail-biting in the top of the 9th, as the RedSox closer, Bailey came in to end the game but the first batter got a home run, making it 4-3 and with a double and a walk, before finally the game ended with a ground ball out and the RED SOX WIN! THE RED SOX WIN!
It was a sweet day in Boston after a terrifying, horrifying, painful and fearful 5 long days.
“Sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good, SO GOOD SO GOOD SO GOOD!” |
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