yankee game | Living 44

Hello friends! Again, I must apologize for being missing in action. My “witching hour” that I wrote about in my post titled “A Spring Break Break” has been arriving earlier and earlier, and finding time to write amid so much going on, Lupus flares/exhaustion and other minor health concerns has been an ongoing challenge. Luckily, the “to do” list is starting to get a bit shorter, so I hope to use the lessons I am learning in Susannah Conway’s “Blogging from the Heart” course to good use and write more.

Anyway, today I would like to focus on my list of things I want to do in my 44th year, which you can read by clicking here. #6 is to see a baseball game at Yankee Stadium, something I’ve never done even though it is so close. Please keep in mind that I’m not a crazy Yankees fan, who curses the Red Sox and all that. Rather, since I have always watched the Yankees, I wanted to see where it all happens.

I am so happy to say that I have crossed that off my list. I went to the May 9, 2015 game versus the Orioles with 2 of my excellent friends, and another who met us at the stadium. We caught the 7:21 train and after arriving at Penn Station, we hopped onto the D train at Herald Square. After about a 20 minute subway ride, we walked out of the train, into the 161st Street Station, up the stairs, and were standing in front of Yankee Stadium by 10:30 am. The gates opened at 11 am, and it was free key chain day: I did get my key chain! We walked immediately over to Monument Park, and it was so amazing to see the legacies and stories of past Yankee greats with my own eyes.

Our seats were 4 rows from the top row in the highest section, but I was happy that I could see the entire field with no problem, even with people sitting in front of me. We had a roof over us which helped keep us warmer than if we had been sitting in the open; it was a very foggy and cool day, and even if it was sunny, the roof would have protected us from sunburn. We enjoyed a pre-game typical lunch of hot dogs, and I purchased some postcards and pins for my collection before the game started. Hearing the “Star Spangled Banner,” Bleacher Creatures, walk up songs for the Yankee players and “God Bless America” with my own ears, versus through a television speaker, was just awesome. I was able to get some good photos of the stadium, the game, and my favorite Yankee, Brett Gardner. The pitchers definitely threw faster than it looks on television, too. Even though the Yankees lost the game, I didn’t mind. It was simply wonderful to be there in person. Many times I just sat there, looking around and taking it all in. We made it home safely on a packed train, and I was home about 13 hours after I had left for my adventure.

I was telling one of the friends who went to the game with me about how I was so mad at myself for never making the effort to get to a game to see Derek Jeter play; he is my favorite player ever, and it’s not because I am a female. I admire his character, drive and demeanor very much. She said that I shouldn’t have regrets about the past, but that I should be happy that I went on May 9.

And she’s right. I know I cannot relive the past (because if I could I would definitely do so many things differently), but I can embrace the present and plan for the future. I venture to predict that the May 8, 2015 game will be the first of many more trips to Yankee Stadium.

#6 of my 10 Things I Will Do While 44 is officially completed and crossed off.