Posted tagged ‘Fenway Park’

“Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses, A box where sweets compacted lie.”

May 7, 2011

The morning is beautiful, sunny and warmish. I woke up to the sound of the lawnmower next door. It reminded me of every Saturday morning all summer. The lawn now is lush and green, the way it is only in the early spring before the heat of the summer sun finds it. As I write, it is being mowed and trimmed. Gracie is an interested spectator.

Last night from the bleachers I watched the Red Sox get thumped by the Twins. I ate a Fenway frank and shared some popcorn. It was fun being back at the ball park under the lights, but I would have preferred to see them win or even stay close. They have one more game to impress me as I have tickets in August.

I had Rice Krispies for breakfast this morning. I should have been sitting on the rug in front of the TV watching Saturday morning cartoons instead of reading the papers while I ate. They still snap, crackle and pop.

I can see the leaves on the oak trees. They are finally catching up with the other trees in the yard. In the front garden, many of the perennials have appeared. They make me want to buy my flowers and my herbs. That’s always a favorite shopping spree. I walk along the rows of flowers dragging my little red wagon behind me as I fill it. This is a red and pink year. I have plenty of white flowers. My friend, the garden maven, gave a list of plants to add to my garden this year. She has well over a hundred varieties in her various gardens so her advice is welcomed.

Later, I’ll venture to the deck and sit in the sun. The few errands I have can wait until the day is cooler in the late afternoon. I just can’t imagine wasting a warm day with blue skies and a gentle breeze.

“When you are sitting in your own house, you don’t learn anything. You must get out of your house to learn.”

May 6, 2011

The sun is shining, and it’s already 60°, a perfectly lovely day. The animals have taken their usual places in the sun and Fern is stretched and basking.

Last night I was my friends’ house for dinner and games. I felt something on the outside of my ear and grabbed a tick on its way up to my hair. All night long I was itchy and the idea of that tick gave me chills. Bloodsuckers are so gross.

The Red Sox got drubbed last night, and I hope they got losing out of their system as I am going to the game tonight. We have bleacher seats we won at trivia last week. I don’t remember the last time I sat in the bleachers, but they used to be the easiest seats to get. All four of my nephews have fond memories of their first games ever at Fenway. I took them all, and we had bleacher seats. They can still describe the days, the games and the food. All four are huge Sox fans. One of them is coming tonight.

I got a call at 8:15 this morning. It woke me up. The caller asked if it had. I grumpily said yes. I had gone to bed late, around 1, and I still needed a bit more sleep. I always observe the 9 to 9 rule-no calls before 9 and none after. 8:15 is just wrong.

Today I reserved my room in a guest house in Accra. Julie, the manager, and I had a lovely conversation. Even after being away forty years I automatically fell into the English pattern of speech we all used when talking with Ghanaians. We spoke slowly and enunciated T’s like in waTer, pronounced waTa, and beTTer, pronounced beTTa, so we could be understood. Idioms and colloquialisms were out. Julie had no problem understanding me, and I was thrilled. She was amazed that I had lived in Bolga and was going back after 40 years. During the conversation she    laughed several times with a hearty Ghanaian laugh. She wanted to know how old I am now, and said how wonderful when I told her. Julie is going to meet me at the airport. I’m just sorry I arrive at 6:50 pm as I would love to relive my first journey from the airport and my first look at Africa and Ghana. After so long, I suspect I’ll be amazed again.

As We Walk to Fenway Park in Boston Town: Jonathan Richman

April 1, 2011

“Baseball is a ballet without music. Drama without words.”

April 1, 2011

It poured all night long. I could hear it on the roof and windows, and I just stayed in bed and listened as I fell asleep. My house in Ghana had a tin roof, and the sound of rain filled all the rooms especially when the tremendous thunder and lightening storms came which announced the beginning of the rainy season. Those storms and that sound are some of my favorite memories.

Today is damp and gray. The rain became intermittent drops just before it stopped earlier this morning. Gracie didn’t mind and neither did I when I went to get the papers. There is barely a wind, and the day is quiet.

I have four nephews, my sister’s two sons and my brother’s. Mike, who lives in the next town and is a baseball fanatic and collector, still remembers his first visit to Fenway Park. I took both him and his brother Tim. It was a beautiful summer day, and we sat in the bleachers. Mike remembers who had hits, who pitched and how much fun he had. His first impression was how green the outfield grass was and that Fenway was smaller than it looked on TV. He has hopes that we’ll go to a game together this summer and so do I. Ryan and Justin are from Colorado, but they are Sox fans. It’s a family thing. They also remember their first game at Fenway Park. I took them too.Ryan remembers where we sat and who pitched. I am glad to be part of those memories.

My sister is having the whole family over for today’s Red Sox opening game. She was trying to figure out her menu when we talked yesterday. My friends Clare and Tony are coming here for the game. We’ll all wear our Red Sox gear including Gracie. We have been waiting for this day all winter.

It is cold and damp and rainy but baseball means summer isn’t so very far away. The game starts at four, my time. Colorado will call after especially good plays and after every Sox home run. I’m hoping they’ll be many. I’m hoping that phone will ring off the hook. I am so glad for the start of baseball season.