Someone sent me a large coffee table book to review recently (details not important, not the point so stay with me here) it was full of beautiful glossy photographs that interested the kids so I took a quiet moment to sit with David and Spencer and flip through the pages together.We got to this large picture of Wrigley field during a night game. The lights were blazing, the crowd was cheering and I could practically hear the organ playing.
Being a baseball fan this of course interested David and he wanted to know which stadium it was--I knew just enough about the game to provide the name and location--but then there was this second picture of the apartment buildings next door to Wrigley. They were tall and narrow and each had bleachers built on the roof so tenants could wander up and catch a game.
Something about the picture and my sentimentality for baseball rose up and I pointed out the bleachers to David thinking he'd be as envious as I was. I could imagine how wonderful it would be to be able to finish out the day sitting up above the street in the cooling evening air with some peanuts and your binoculars and the crack of the bat.
"Hey look at that!" I said, full of nostalgia, "Aren't they lucky? They have bleachers on their roofs so anytime there's a game they can go upstairs and watch. I'd love that, to just have a picnic on the roof while I'm catching a baseball game."
Knowing David I figured this would appeal to him as much as to me so I twitched a bit when he said blandly, "Oh I don't know."
"WHAT?" I said, wondering what had become of my son. "What do you mean?"
He looked at me with a touch of disgust as if the answer was obvious and said in this perfect snob-voice, "I don't like the Cubs."
OH. Well excuuuuuuuuse me!
With each passing day I'm getting more and more of a glimpse into the Male Mind.
I don't care who was playing I'd be there.
Photo via Clem's baseball
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24 comments:
They always surprise us, huh? I live not far from Wrigley (actually, you can see my high rise in this picture) and there is quite a buzz around here on game days -- sometimes fun other times a little too much. As for the buildings with the bleachers, no one lives in those buildings anymore. They're all owned by companies who rent out the bleachers on game day to anyone willing to pay the price.
I know just how you feel. I thought it was FABULOUS that Al got to throw out the first pitch at a Cubs game this spring. He thought I was nuts to be so excited, "It's just the CUBS." Dude, it's major league baseball! C'mon! Male mind indeed.
M
Too funny! Which team is his favorite?
Great tale - I know just how you feel.
I too would be ready anytime and anyday indeed to go upstairs and watch a wonderful baseball game. Really interesting stuff...I am bookmarking this wonderful stuff: http://delicious.com/britneyvaughan
Even here in Chicago it wouldn't be hard to find a guy with that reaction (even a young one). There are MANY Sox fans who DISTAIN the cubs!!! I was fascinated with those bleachers too and figured people were having parties and inviting friends, etc. Alas...as Sarah said, those are the really expensive seats!!!
I was lucky enough to attend a company trip with the company I worked for last August, and got to sit on one of those roofs. We'd gotten VIP passes, and it was a great way to enjoy my first ever baseball game. For many reasons, it was most memorable.
And I didn't care who was playing, either.
We are a house mainly of girls, and a husband who's sports fanatics only come out in the playoffs and olympics, but I agree - I'd be their!
Sarah said what I was going to say. They rent out the bleachers on the roof-tops.
And I remember back in high school, we paid $4 for a bleacher (in park) seat. What they are going for now is incredible. And I"m sure they will be up much more after the Cubs win the World Series this year.
pj must know a lot of southsiders- it seems as if Chicago is split between the northside (Cubs) and south (Sox.)
There is nothing like a game a wrigley, nothing.
I love live baseball games, especially professional ones. Professional hockey games are a lot of fun to go see also.
I Beati spotlighted your blog on her "share the love" post. What a fun post being an avid baseball fan; living near New York, both a Yankee and Mets fan. But would have loved to have been able to watch a game from the bleecher seats of homes. What a clever idea. Only possible in the days gone by. It was nice meeting you. Being a writer, I would like to add you to my blog list so I'll find you again. It was nice meeting you. :)) Petra
so funny that you write this post - as i write this comment, my husband and oldest child are at their first ever game at...wrigley field! and i think the cubs are losing.
oh well.
Snicker. Maybe he could watch when his own team came to town!! My son has been to Wrigley; I've been to see the Sox at home, but never to Wrigley.
I bet he'd be there anyway. ;)
See, I'd be all about the lights in my windows at night and the agony of not sleeping with the noise. Wait - Wrigley has lights now, right?
That would be SO cool, to go up to your roof and catch the game! No matter WHO was playing!
He.Doesn't.Like.The.Cubs??? Excuse me while I go restart my heart. And pick myself up off the floor. And wipe tears of sadness from my cheeks. A baseball pox on him!!! LOL!
BWAH HA HA HA! The little man is showing his opinions quite decisively . It cracks me up.
Awww . . . tell David that I don't like the Cubs either. And as cool as it would be to have seats overlooking Wrigley Field, it's not worth it if you despise the team :-)
Yeah, I think I'd still think it was cool to be there anyway.
I actually have a friend who owns one of those rooftops and I can tell you there is now better way to watch the Cubs. Even if you aren't a fan, you will briefly become one :)
Your kids are so funny.
I would like to bleachers on the roof too. I bet it's a big selling point, even if it is the Cubs!
I'm with you. I'd even watch the Yankees (and as a Southerner, that's saying a lot).
Boys are funny, aren't they? I have to tell you, I married into a Cub-detesting-Cardinal-loving family, but, I've watched a game from those bleachers (a Cubs-Cards game of course)and it is a ton of fun! Most of them can be rented for the games :)
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