The sun was shining earlier, but now it is just light behind the clouds, but the day, at 51°, is already warmer than it has been. The small branches are blowing in the wind. It is a spring day.

When I was a kid, days like today made me want to skip, even run, for the joy of it. My winter coat was already in the closet to stay. I wore my jacket with a sweater underneath though sometimes I didn’t need the sweater. My mother was the wardrobe arbiter. I think she just stuck her head out the door before she decided what I’d wear. 

I always had the best lunches. My mother knew what to pack and what not to pack in my lunchbox. I never had peanut butter and jelly, and I only had tuna on Fridays, the meatless day. I ate so many tuna sandwiches between my first and eighth grades I haven’t eaten tuna in years, decades. I am also not a fan of egg salad. My mother used to keep cookies hidden so they’d be enough for lunches. Sometimes she would surprise me with something Hostess. Ring Dings and Sno Balls, pink Sno Balls, were my favorites. I especially loved the coconut in the pink frosting. I also liked Hostess cupcakes. Sometimes I could pull off the frosting on the cupcakes in one piece. I’d save it for last. I’d buy milk at school. It was delivered to my classroom just before lunch. I was never good at opening milk cartons. 

In high school I bought my lunch. Later, I earned my lunch by cleaning trays. I did it to to keep my lunch money, my play money, my ice cream money at Brigham’s after school. The women in the cafeteria always had the radio playing. I remember I was cleaning trays when the radio announced the president had been shot. I ran to my classroom and turned on the TV. Sister Ernestina came in and wanted to know who had turned on the TV. I did I told her, and I told her why. She watched with us. The trays are a part of my memories of that day.

Today the furnace guy is coming back to put in a new furnace filter. The furnace was an easy fix this time. He did say that there is rust, and the furnace will need to be replaced. That made me cringe.

Yesterday I heard the loud gobbles of turkeys. I went to look and saw amorous turkeys, three pairs of them. The gobblers had spread their tails. I could see all the colors of the feathers, the gold and the copper. One had such long tail feathers I could hear the  feathers scrape on the ground. One of the hens couldn’t resist and the two danced around each other. I went back inside the house and let them dance in peace. 

I have loved baseball since I was a kid. The basic rules were easy to learn. The nuances like a Texas leaguer or when to bunt came later. Girls played softball, never baseball, but once, when I went to my brother’s practice, the coach asked me if I wanted to play. I did. I played second base for a few innings. I had two hits including a double. The coach was amazed. I was thrilled. 

My first Red Sox game was at night. A friend’s sister worked for the Sox so she got seats for us. We got there early to watch batting practice. I remember walking out from the tunnel to the field. The lights were lit, and the grass was the greenest grass I had ever seen. I stood mesmerized. The outfielders were close. One caught a ball near me and gave me the ball. It was a treasure. Our seats were box seats close to the field. We ate hot dogs. We ate peanuts. Shells were all round my feet. I don’t even remember if the Sox won or not, but I vividly remember everything else. 

In those days tickets were cheap. The bleacher seats were under a dollar. They were my usual hang out. The bleacher crowd was always loud, fun. Years later my friend could get box seats for any game. His father was a well known state politician. I remember for one game we were beside the dugout in row 2. My friend’s mother had filled a picnic basket we took to the game. We even had popcorn. 

My house has Red Sox memorabilia. I have only one signed ball, a Trot Nixon. I have a NESN bobble head with Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy. Don is the Padres announcer now and Jerry had passed away. They were such fun. I miss both of them. I have a David Ortiz commemorative bat, a few Sox hats, a signed Bill Monbouquette card, a Wally doll, a couple of ticket stubs and my favorite, a brick. The Sox sold bricks to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Fenway. Mine was a gift from friends. My brick is in the Monbouquette section. That signed card was another gift. My friends were stumped as to what to put on the brick. They decided on Kathleen Ryan, Peace Corps, Ghana 1969-1971. Check it out if you are ever in Fenway.

Today is opening day!! 

My furnace has stopped heating the house. It blows for all it is worth but the heat doesn’t rise. The last thing I need is a new furnace. I am hoping it can be fixed. I called and made an appointment. They will be here this afternoon. Until then, I’ll bundle. I’ll let you know.