The church Kim and I were married in, was named after San Xavier. This morning, we found ourselves there to remember Kimmy and attend Mass. The children from the attached school attended today, the feast day of the angel Gabriel, coming to let Mary know, she would give birth to Jesus. The children did the readings and sang, adding a nice, personal touch to Mass this morning. The homily was inspiring, as Father Stephen reminded us that God does have a plan for all of us (lately, the line from a Sum 41 song has played over and over in my head 'God has no plan for me. Well I'll tell you one thing, I don't have the patience, all of the time. What can I say? I'm no angel.'- so his homily really touched me, as he pointed out we have to have patience and it is up to us to answer His call. How'd he know??).
After Mass, we lit a candle for Kimmy in the church and then proceeded to the little chapel of Mary, right next door, where Kimmy's smiling face looked at us from the altar. There was no dove today.
When we were done lighting our candles, thanking God for our time with Kimmy and praying, we made the pilgramage up the little mountain next to the church. I told the kids the story of the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary, as we stood next to the altar dedicated to her, in a grotto on the side of the mountain. As we came around the corner, and the church came into view, Tonio sighed 'ahhh, what a beautiful view of the church...' And it is...it is an absolutely beautiful, peaceful, cleansing place - all around. This was the 5th Mass I've attended here this month - and I am always awe struck - it has a calming affect. Whenever I am sitting in the church, looking at the altar, our wedding day replays in my head, a perfect movie - a fairy tale wedding...
Later today, we went to see some baseball! Spring Training, thought to be lost to Tucson, had returned, to benefit those involved in the Gabrielle Gifford's shooting on January 8th. We were there. Along with 10,500 spectators. My first thought was: 'Wow. There were more people at the Red Bulls v Sporting FC soccer match held at Hi Corbett Field.' Second, 'Doesn't anybody work in Tucson?'.
It was a glorious day...we parked near the 10 at Kino Field (formerly known as Tucson Electric Park) and made the journey to the stadium. In the mid-70's, no one was complaining about the heat. As we entered the ball park, Brian asked 'Where do you want to sit?'...I told him I did not care, I was just so happy to be inside this stadium, and able to watch some baseball!!! There is a certain feel you get when you walk into a crowded stadium...the sights, the smells, green grass, the vendors...and man, did it feel good today. The smell of fresh cut grass wafted up to us as we looked for a place to camp out.
As we walked through the parking lot, to the ball park, I told Cody, 'You know, your Mama has always been a Dodger fan.'...'Really?' he asked. 'Yep. Bought her a Steve Sax jersey back in the early '80's...and remember when Chris Berman of Sports Center would say 'And Steve 'Alto' Sax just stole second!''. We'd go to see the Dodgers play the Phils every year at Veteran's Stadium in Philly...Later, I bought her a Mike Piazza jersey. She was a big Tommy Lasorda fan, and Piazza was Tommy's Godson...from down the street from where we grew up...Norristown, Pa.
The grass was so green. The breeze took any heat off of the sun, yet, the sun warmed our bodies. We found a nice, grassy spot, on the sloped outfield near right field. Betsey and Amy spread the blankets and the kids made themselves comfortable...for a moment....'I have to go to the bathroom.'...'Do they sell pretzels here?'...So, we made a pilgramage of a different sort....
Kimmy and I saw many Spring Training games since we moved here in 1994. Back then, we only had the Rockies, playing at classic Hi Corbett Field. We'd go to see 4 or 5 games each spring, continuing the tradition after Cody was born. The Rockies mascot, Dinger, is a triceratops and Cody would get so excited when Dinger would make his rounds. By then, I was managing the Toys R Us on Broadway, and, as a post-Christmas 'Thank you', I would take as many employees as I could out to see a game.
When Tucson Electric Park opened (now inexplicably called Kino Park, which is better than a corporate name, I guess), we got the Diamondbacks and the White Sox - and there was a Spring Training game every day for the entire month of March. My long running joke to Kimmy was, 'Guess what we are doing for your birthday?' 'What Dave?' 'I got tickets to see the Dbacks play the Angles!' Kimmy would always giggle for me, knowing that I had other things planned for her March 1st day.
We used to like to go to the first day of ticket sales. The Diamondbacks would have a few players on hand to sign autographs and there would be jumping castles, pitching games and food. Once Autumn and Tonio came along, we stuck to buying lawn seating...they would last longer during a game if they weren't confined to seats! Cody liked to get down as close to the field as possible and try to catch a foul ball - his best spot was all the way down the third base line.
I'd always buy Kimmy and Autumn an ear of roasted corn. I swear roasted corn is all Autumn would eat for a period of time once her teeth were all in! Many great spring memories of us enjoying games at TEP and Hi Corbett....
Back at home...I made the girls pasta (what a lenten surprise!) and Angie stopped by to pick up Lexy later on in the evening...We tried to coerce her into staying for a beer, but she could not be corrupted! So, we ended up at Betsey and Brian's house watching reruns of old Chris Farley Saturday Night Live episodes, cracking each other up!
A good Friday...it was so nice to go to Mass at San Xavier - where Kim and I began our married lives almost 18 years ago...still fresh in my memory, and, as I've said, a fairy tale....and that ball park...Kimmy made sure, that, each Spring Training, we'd get to see at least one game...at least one...we loved the calm, soothing pace of the game, laying in the green grass and warm sunshine, washing away our cares....
I beautiful day indeed.
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous!! I've been feeling very "lost" without our Spring Training here!!
ReplyDelete