date: Sat 18 Oct 2025 09:07:58 PM PDT
subj: babies at baseball game mariners. 
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Can I remember back this far?
I've been too tired to write.
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A few weeks ago, or maybe two we packed up our stuff and went to
the baseball game. All of us as a family. It was our babies
first game. Mom and Dad each had a backpack loaded with our baby
gear. Mom packed everything we needed. Diapers, wipes, ear
protection, coats, bottles (with formula) extra bottles. We knew
no stroller allowed, it was bajorn (baby back pack). 

We drove out early in the morning. We live quite a distance from
the game location. I thought we would be early, but my wife
thinks better to be early than late. We stopped at McDonald's
for some things I shouldn't buy, but the night before I already
decided I would be bad. A large vanilla iced coffee, and a
sausage egg MC Muffin. Not a healthy choice at my age, but being
an addict to caffeine is forever, same as a sugar addict. This
is America the land of sugar :( :( :( we'll all pay for that in
the end. I was almost stressing about my order, because I've
been to the McDonald's we are going to before. Last time I
ordered my wants and desires (iced coffee), only to get to the
window to hear "we are all out of iced coffee." As I think about
this it puts me  on edge ...  I want that caffeine to fix my
tired mood. This time ... they had all our stuff. So I left the
drive through with my wife sitting next to me in the front seat
this time, happy, as I sip on my coffee, I drive down the road.
I begin to talk louder and faster, with more cheer than I've had
for weeks. My wife makes a comment about it, and this is how I
can tell the caffeine is in my system. Pepped and chatty I drive
us to the event. 

Now I spent a lot of effort cutting back my caffeine intake. As
a computer person coffee is part of the culture, and I've been
in the computing thing for a lot of years. Many a day over the
past two years now my caffeine levels are fairly low, I only
drink decaf, and occasionally macha tea on Sundays after ZaZen.
Or just because its Sunday an if I would have gone to ZaZen I
would have had macha, so I have it as if I did my practicing.
The hard work at caffeine reduction has really helped my
sleeping ability, but after late stage of pregnancy and babies
every little  bit of help with sleep I can get, I do, and
caffeine reduction has helped a bit, specially with 6 months of
interrupted sleep. I can fall asleep faster without caffeine
disrupting my melatonin levels. A regular dose of caffeine takes
a day and a half to recover from, but today is a special event!
Its the game !, but not just the game, its the first game with
our babes!  :) 

We park outside the stadium .... I think it was on 4th. We put
our bjorns on, wake the babes, change diapers in parking lot,
put babes in bjorns, put back packs on, and start walking with
the crowed to stadium. Round the bend, up the hill, down the
stairs and there are all the long lines of fans. Due to having
babies we get to go to the extra assistance line, which has a
queue of 3 people. Lucky us. A quick check of our bags. I get to
pull out the bag in the bag with all the bottles. All cleared, I
get to assist the assistant put the special red tag on my bag,
and then we we head up the steps to the main level,

At the main level we spot my wife's great friend M. She is such
a help, we walk over to get their first game photo. M helps hold
stuff for us, and generally has a cheerful disposition. Uh oh,
we already lost a sock! My son and I do a quick track back for
sisters sock, ha ha ha, no luck. Goodbye little sock! After my
seek and find we decide to go get a memorable first game
certificate, to go with their first game picture. So cool. There
at services we try on different ear protection. The stadium ear
muffs would squeeze our child's ears so far into their skull,
their soft skulls would probably collapse. Ultimately we decide
their current protection is best. These babes are almost 5
months or just at 5 months old, ear protection is a must. The
place is very busy, so many people everywhere but I'm happy with
my son as we walk around. He gets to see everything, and he
seems to really enjoy looking at so many different people and
different things. This is the busiest place he's ever been in
his entire life. The grocery store is a bore compared to the
activity level walking through the concourse. 

We decide we better get food now before going to seats. We
decide on chicken curry. The line is already long for Kastu, so
now is the time before it gets to be a multi inning line. M
helps carry our food, and we all make our way up to the 300
level to some great seats. I see the stairs and decide my chance
to get a little exercise. My wife and M take the elevator. My
son and I get to look out over the city as we walk up to the 300
level, step by step. I hold his hands as we make our way. Two
happy guys at game day. We meet back up with sister, wife, and
M, at our seats.  Other friends are their too, and everyone is
happy to see the babes at the game. 

Pre game, the noise level is off the charts at least for me. I
pop some ear plugs in my sockets that M got for us.  Babes seem
to be fine with their ear protection on. The wonderful baseball
event eventually starts and its perfect.  Great view nice
weather, the people near us are all relaxed, nobody is going off
drunk or obnoxious. We start to settle in and watch the game. 

Baseball is a sport like no other, and they shouldn't try to
change it! People say its too slow, but that is the point of
baseball. The pitch, the call strike or ball, the possibility of
a hit, a home run hit, maybe a bunt, a base hit, or even a grand
slam! Its these events that take time to get to that make
baseball so special. While we all sit and watch together we talk
and share thoughts about the game, food, or life. Or we just
watch the field in awe of the structure, sometimes the crowd,
sometimes nearby fans, and listen to their comments, or
conversations, its all there at the game. Sitting relaxing
waiting for those incredible moments. Sometimes I just like to
watch how the batters prepare for a pitch. Will they run to
first or just trot. We have moments to do that, and that is why
baseball is so Fing great!.  There are times when the game seems
like it only took and hour, and there are other times when it
takes forever, but I wouldn't change it. 

During the game, the babes got to visit with friends, M took a
babe for awhile K, took a babe for awhile. It was great just
being with everyone there and our babies being part of the event
with them, and the fans. I got to see some good plays, and some
bad plays. The game went by super fast. Our team didn't win
today but it was still a great day.

The game ended and friends left. M, my wife, babes, and I all
sat for awhile like we usually do to let the crowed move through
the stadium, before we got up to walk out. At the 300 level
nobody comes to tell you the game is over time to go, like so
many times M, my wife, and I have experienced on the 100 level.
Since we had the babes, no hunting for free peanuts. One season
we didn't have to buy peanuts because we found so many bags of
uneaten peanuts. he he he, we ate our seeds and free peanuts
every game (before babes). After each game at the 100 level we
would walk through the seats as we head up to the concourse and
usually find a bag or three of un-eaten peanuts. I loved it.
Sure I get teased a bit but eventually M would even help us find
them!  

We all walked down the stairs and made our way to level 100 and
out stadium with the crowed. I wasn't sad we didn't see our team
win, as I walked, I was just happy I was with my family and
friends this day. We eventually parted ways with M, and went to
our car to load ourselves up and head back home. 

It took awhile to get out of the parking lot, but we went on
down the road and although we had a layover at the dock, we got
out and enjoyed the fresh air. We ended up seeing another
baseball fan, who shared all of his great moments and stories
with us. At first he was talking to me, but my wife is the real
baseball fan, a true fan. This happens all the time, they think
I'm the baseball fan, and I am in a small way, but my wife is
the one with all the passion for baseball. If only I had that for
something. The closest I get is computing, maybe music, cycling,
but those things I have to do alone, nobody really talks about
those things like their love of baseball. The older fella shared
great stories with us. Then another man had to talk to us as
well. Our time on the dock felt almost as long as the game, but
it was still nice to me. 


We eventually journeyed onward to home, and I asked my wife what
it is to be a fan like that man we talked to. She shared her
thoughts and helped me understand more about being a fan. It
must be a great thing. I've never had a desire to get someone's
autograph, but for those who have it seems like a wonderful
thing, and a capture of a moment of appreciation for someone who
gave joy to a fan for the moments they get to experience, with
those graphs, a link to memories past of moments of joy.
Something physical to hold and cherish maybe.  

We got home a lot later than we expected it was a great day with
our family and friends, and our first big event. I only wish it
was a Saturday instead of a Sunday. 

That night our babies slept just like one of the fans in the
line for food said their baby slept after their first game. If
only babes could sleep like that every night. 

The season is almost over, will the babes get to go to one more
game? Maybe. I hope they do! If so that will be a very very
special game indeed. The biggest game of my life. 

:) we'll see! :)