“When we lose Fenway, we lose the sense that somebody sat here and watched Ted Williams hit.”
The sun popped out, took a look at the day and went right back behind the clouds. The wind is blowing but the day feels warm at 40°. All of the animals are sleeping, and I think them wise. The day after Christmas is always a bit of a letdown. The anticipation is gone, and the wonderful Christmas music disappears off the radio. The tree gets lit every night, but its job is pretty much done. Today is, for me, a day to sit and look at my presents again and do little or nothing. I’m not even going to get dressed. Brushing my teeth is about the only planned activity.
My friends gave me a brick for Christmas but not just any brick. It’s a replica of the brick with my name on it which will become a forever part of Fenway Park when the bricks are laid in the concourse near gates B & C. This new brick walkway is part of the celebration commemorating the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park. I can’t even describe how excited I was when I opened my present. It’s about the best present ever, at least since I got my bike.
I have loved the Red Sox since I was a little kid. In those days the bleacher seats cost under a dollar, and day of game seats were always available, even for the best seats, the boxes right beside the field. When I was in college, the guy I was dating would have his mother pack a box (sorry!) lunch and we’d head to the park. He always bought seats near the dugout. A game at Fenway is like a game nowhere else as so many seats are close to the action. It’s almost as if you were on the field. Last year was a bust for my Sox, but, as always, we fans know the next year will be a better one. That has always been our mantra.
The sun is back, and the sky has patches of blue. It will be a lovely day after all.
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December 26, 2011 at 11:58 am
Much the same over here today but none of the animals are sleeping at the moment. Nova the pitbull and Teodor the cat is wrestling at the moment and I’m not sure who’s winning 🙂 I’ll keep an eye on them because I don’t want Nova to loose her eyes if Teo would loose his paitens 🙂
What a fun gift! How come will You have that brick with Your name on it at Fenway?
Second day of christmas as we call this day is either a day at home relaxing or the day when we go to those relatives we usually try to stay away from 🙂 🙂 🙂 It is a official holiday here so very few goes to work today.
Have a great day!
Christer.
December 26, 2011 at 6:11 pm
Christer,
I keep an eye on Gracie and Fern. The dog stands in the hall because Gern is by the door and Gracie is afraid to pass her. That cat swats her.
My friends bought the brick for me. The gift included an exacr replica of the one going down at Fenway.
Boxing Day is today in England. I always think we should have some sort of holiday today so we can recuperate from all the festivities.
December 26, 2011 at 12:42 pm
The trend in the last twenty years in baseball has been the retro classic ballpark. Each one has an old style exterior and some interior planned quirks such as short porches or manual scoreboards to remind the fans of what baseball was in the twentieth century before free agency and multi millionaire players.
The fans of Boston and the fans on the North Side of Chicago are so fortunate to have two original cathedrals of the game in Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. Although they have been fitted with lights and skyboxes, the spirits of Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson and countless other immortals actually took that field and created our national past time. Can anyone create a retro “Green Monster” or retro “Ivy Covered” walls? Only a Fenway Frank tastes the same in Fenway Park.
I don’t know why either the Cubs or the Red Sox owners have not fallen for the ultimate greed and just wrecked both shrines in the name of bigger profits. Consider yourself very lucky that next year will be the 100th anniversary of a great baseball venue. In 1995 I was lucky enough to watch a Saturday afternoon game at Fenway. While sitting in a field box down the first base line I could feel the spirits of the many greats who performed on that true field of dreams. Before I die, I want to see a game in Wrigley Field. I want to take the El out to game. The rest of them are all just replicas of past greatness and monuments to greed. When I turn on the TV “Game of the Week” I can’t tell from the appearance of the ballpark which teams are playing since they all look alike. When the Cubs or the Red Sox play at home you have no doubt that it’s Fenway or Wrigley.
What a wonderful Christmas gift you received this year.
December 26, 2011 at 6:17 pm
Bob,
I knew that the ballparks being build are meant to resemble the old parks. Too bad the old parks were preserved like Fenway. has been There have been all sorts of upgrades at Fenway including new seats and the removal of the skyboxes. Only a couple of suites remain. The green monster seats were listed in SI as the best seats in baseball.
I agree about Wrigley and Fenway being cathederals of the game. One of my favorite stories was when Bill Lee (I think) first saw Fenway he wanted to know if they removed the Green Monster in the winter.
The Sox owners are especially sensitive to the preservattion of the park. The concourse was rebuilt, bathrooms upgraded, a huge viewing screen ( I forget what you call them) added and all the old bleacher seats were replaced. They have done an amazing job keeping Fenway virtually untouched. The scoreboard is still done by hand which I think is wonderful!
It was a wonderful gift!
December 26, 2011 at 4:57 pm
That’s a fine Christmas present Ms Kat. WOW! Time to buy seasonal tickets.
December 26, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Z&Me,
If I were rich, I’d go on that waiting list for season tickets or, at the very least, I’d rent one of the suites and invite all my friends to the game.
I never miss a game on TV and try to go at least once a year. Last season I made it twice.
December 26, 2011 at 5:16 pm
Once Christmas is done, I want all the decorations put away and get back to normal. Mrs Hedley was last seen under a large pile of gifts, so no help there…I even found a gift this morning that I forgot to give.It will be done this week.
December 26, 2011 at 6:21 pm
My Dear Hedley,
Poor Mrs. Hedley!
When I was young, we often found a new present under the tree after we had seen the other gifts. My mother would remember where she’d hidden a few gifts and then she’d slip them under the tree as if we’d missed them.
Little Christmas is when most of my decorations come down. The snowmen stay up all winter.
December 26, 2011 at 8:37 pm
I’m glad you received such nice gifts. I hate to say it but I am thankful that Christmas is over. Yes, I am rather a grinch, and I don’t like the music. Bah Humbug. It’s dark and cold now. Jewels is on the bed, after ordering me about all day; I am almost ready for a nap. I did go see the movie Being Elmo, which as a fine movie. And I suppose the holiday spirit moved me for an hour or two, cause Elmo is about giving and love. We walked in downtown Berkeley, and saw the lights, and stopped into a toy store. I bought myself a gift of a new kind of stuffed creature ( don’t laugh ) which is a T-4 bacteria. There were so many to choose from, ( I resisted HIV, bedbugs etc..) and came across this cute little fellow. I haven’t named him/her yet–any suggestions?
Waving,
Lori
December 26, 2011 at 10:58 pm
Lori,
I’m sorry about the music as I love Christmas carols, well most of them anyway. I suspect your cold and my cold might be very different. Right now it’s 28°.
I did laugh at the new stuffed toys. How funny. I’ll give his name a little thought.
Waving back!