Another baseball season is underway. That positive only decorates my face with a smile, and
uplifts my spirits like few things are able to do. At Winter’s end I count down the days until Spring training. When the pitchers and catches report, it is cause for celebration. Time to have Jim hang my beautiful navy and white Yankee Flag high on the corner column of the house. Just about that much lower than the beautiful Stars and Stripes of our American Flag.
Is it all about baseball? Maybe in part, but I doubt it is the sole reason I anticipate the season’s arrival with such unbridled glee. To me it’s a symbol of the rebirth of the year. Never mind what the calendar says.
I live in the North East, Spring training heralds warmer weather, budding flowers, turning of the garden, and sitting outdoors with a cool drink and my feet up on a chair. It’s lighter clothing, less wash, and fewer closeted days wearing warm sweaters. No need to worry about television repeats, which happen more often at the change of season, I can usually find a Yankee game on YES or ESPN. It’s brand new and it’s happening now.
This year the face of my Yankees is slightly askew. No more Jorge Posada, who was a fixture in pinstripes for seventeen years. Giradi platoons Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, sometimes making them designated hitters instead of allowing them to play at short stop and third base. This to save the older men’s legs. And the legendary Mariano Rivera’s ERA is inching up, but he is still the greatest. But wait, all is not lost, Andy Petite just missed the game too much. He will be back on the mound this year. I’m looking forward to it.
Although the aging Yankees are a reflection of myself, the beauty of this musing is that I don’t have to acknowledge it to anyone not even me. I will just cheer and encourage the younger team members, Swisher, Cano, Nunez, Gardner and more.
Yes, the face of the Yankees is changing But to me it’s as dear as ever. I wonder if pinstripes become me.
Life As I Remember It! 