A notice was presented to the families of Centerville, Ohio's Little League baseball players: The players were invited to attend a Dayton Dragons Baseball Game and be featured VIP's in an opening parade! Tiff thought that it would be a wonderful idea for Todd to march and go to the game. As it happened, the date was one where Grandpa from New York would be in town for Todd's First Holy Communion on that weekend and the entire family could go, watch Todd and have a wonderful "kick off" to the weekend!
Grandpa's plane landed in enough time for the game...tight for the parade. Tiff, preparing for the Communion (nails, hair) was running late. Meme, that would be me, was ready, in spite of baking and sewing for the festivities (did I mention that I am also one of the teachers...instruction, practice) to watch the parade..."Mom, if you're ready, get him to the field!"
In amazingly torrential rain, thunder and lightning, we in the car, struggled to get to the field. I phoned the Dragons' Office to ask if the decision makers of cancellations or delays, at least had noticed that there was a monsoon blowing through the Miami Valley. I said that the boys were ball players, not swimmers. The cheerful voice on the other end of the phone said, "Well, I don't see anything on my computer screen, so the schedule is as is!"
My car was getting swamped on the road. I could barely keep the car on the road, creeping along at about 15 miles an hour and almost began calling cadence to Todd, "Row Row Row!" After what seemed like an eternity of taking a pounding by water, the sky suddenly calmed, the storm subsided and Todd screeched, "Look, Meme! Over there! A rainbow!" Arching across the sky was a beautiful rainbow, unlike anything that I had ever seen!
We headed for the rainbow, parked the car got to the corner where we were to meet the coach and teammates...No one was there! Perhaps they couldn't book passage on the Ark, but, a little boy dressed in his uniform and his grandmother (dressed in a snappy black and white outfit, fit to see the ex and look great doing it), stood with the gatekeeper and out of the way of fans entering the ball field. The gatekeeper, who was so sweet and gracious, suggested that we look for our group in an area behind a huge scoreboard/screen. We wandered in, found NO ONE from his team! A few Centerville players trickled in, not many. We did find another teammate and his Mom and siblings, whew!
It was time to line up in the staging area. I frantically texted Tiff, phoned, sent up flares and carrier pigeons...got nothing! Where was everyone? Finally, security told the players and ONE parent as escort, to line up on the edge of the field! "Come on Meme! You can march, you told me you used to march with batons! Come on!" Todd couldn't contain his eagerness, his enthusiasm, his happy anticipation! He looked at the stands! He swelled with glee! The real ballfield, the people, the players, the mascots, the dance teams, the music, the cheers! His little legs were on springs as he began to prance, grabbing my hand! "Todd, I don't have my batons today and...well..." I looked at Todd, I saw the crowd, following his lead, taking his hand, I said, " Smile and wave, the people will cheer and wave back !" We did, they did! He felt like a major league player at Yankee Stadium! We went all around the field, waving like rock stars! He was beside himself with joy!
The parade ended, we began to search the stadium for a familiar face. We found ourselves running smack into Grandpa, Mom, Tess, Tanner! The chorus sang out, "Todd, when do you parade?" Speechlessly, I could only look...a look that screamed,"'REALLY?" Tiff then suggested, "Oh, I guess we missed it?" Have I mentioned that she was National Honor Society and graduated from Wright State University with honors, gold tassel, gold collar and the works?
Baseball registration for an eight year old: $90.00. Tickets for a game: $88.00. Parking near the stadium: $5.00...The look on a little boy's face marching in uniform at Fifth Third Field: priceless! I wouldn't have missed it for all of the tea in China. And, believe me, there were relentless buckets of water falling on the way to brew all of the tea in China!
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