Welcome to Kamp

It was a grey and misty day and the bases were loaded. There was no announcer, no scoreboard, no guys selling beer or hot dogs--just a few familiar faces in the stands. They heard me pull up. I was driving our 68 Mustang, which is incredibly loud--and saw me rush out of the car and join them.

Just about one hour ago, I got a text at work from A, our dependable nanny. "The game is on!" I switched aps and dejectedly realized I would miss my express train. But I could pack up my papers and notebook, jump on the local and get some work done.

As I turned the key, the gas gauge barely moved past E. UGH, not a good time to have a GAS GUZZLING muscle car. $40 barely moved the needle but more than enough to get me to Veteran's Park to see MJ pitch his first baseball game.

He barely spoke after the game ended and the coach told him he wants MJ to pitch again. His "OK" was barely audible and the car ride home was quiet. At home, I did hear, "My pitch curves too much." "The ball didn't drop enough." "It didn't curve enough." On and on the self-criticism went and he wept in his bunk bed. His bedroom room lights were off.

A part of me of course was happy while this occurred. I rather have someone, especially my kid, display raw emotion than just be blasé about things, even if baseball is just a game. Would prefer pure joy of course, but I hope this also makes MJ realize the value of practice, how to practice better, play better, etc. We spoke about all this over dinner and he shall learn in due course.

Yeah, I missed his first pitch, and maybe his first 20. MJ's statline I think reads: 4 runs, 1 hit, 2 KO's, a bunch of walks, lots of wild pitches and one thrown glove after the inning ended. We'll never be sure--the box score won't be on internet or newspaper. But seeing MJ on the mound, go through his wind up, the same determined and focused face, seeing him pitch from the sidelines in my worn out grey Brooks Brothers suit--and not behind home plate at Kamp K in my Merrill clogs, khaki shorts and Springsteen t-shirt is different and cool. That is baseball.