Mascots

As part of out Labor Day weekend we went to watch the Durham Bulls play the Norfolk Tides. Being reasonable parents - or at least trying to manage our expectations - we bought lawn seats in the outfield because we knew that the kids would never sit still for a baseball game.  Unfortunately, the lawn seats we the hottest part of the entire stadium and the temperatures were well into the upper 90s.

When we took our seats two employees from the team asked us if the boys wanted to participate in the  mini Wool E. Bull run between the eighth and ninth innings.  Out of the entire park our boys were picked!  Of course we weren't really sure what the mini Wool E. Bull run was but, hey, we'd figure that out when the time came and Lisa signed on the dotted line.

If only we could get to the eighth inning.  It was ungodly hot.  No breeze.  No clouds.  And the boys had no interest in watching the game even though a homer un landed twenty feet away from us or that there was a rare triple play!  Lisa and I took turns walking TJ and Grant around the park into the areas that were shaded and cooler - each time buying more food or souvenirs.  I am not one to endure misery and was ready to go at the third inning, yet somehow my patience, Lisa's patience, and the kids behavior all had positive vibes.  The fifth inning lasted forever and the Norfolk Tides scored runs that would ultimately put them over the top.  Thank goodness the sixth inning went fast!

I realized along the way that TJ, who is now playing baseball, has no concept of the game.  Balls, strikes, offense and defense are new concepts to him.  I did my best to share rudimentary rules and concepts with him and he did his best to follow along.  Amazingly, he showed genuine interest in how that game is played.  Clearly its something I need to work on more with him.  By the seventh inning we moved to the area where we were supposed to meet the park staff.  It was cooler and closer than our seats on the law, right behind the Visitors dugout.

TJ and Grant and a few other kids were ushered down into the stadium - air conditioning!!! - and put into their costumes.  I made  sure they were ready to go.  TJ commented (rightly) that someday, somehow, these pictures of him would come back to embarrass him.  Helloooo High School graduation.  The look on their faces was priceless.  They were doing something really unique.  They were both super excited and had no problem with me leaving them there.

Lisa and I enjoyed twenty minutes of alone time while the game played out.   We got to sit in the section behind the batter on the third base line waiting for the moment when the kids would come out.  Our "date night" lasted long enough to realize that we would come back some night without the kids and enjoy a game in the shade of the stadium drinking $7 beers.

Between the eighth and ninth innings Wool E. Bull and a small herd of mini bulls came charging out of the home team dugout and ran around the infield in a whacky game of Follow-the-Leader.  Grant - the smallest bull - was easy to spot at the pack of the pack.  We watched them on the jumbo-tron and crossed our fingers that Grant would run off in some direction other than where everyone else was going.   TJ stayed right next to the mascot.  TJ might have been dressed like a bull but was a real ham.  Standing in front of a couple thousand people and waving to the crowd put the biggest smile on his face.

The boys ran into the third base dugout and disappeared.  Grant was so excited that he followed the rest of the kids even after making eye contact with Mommy.  A few minutes later they came out to meet us with a baseball card from Wool E. Bull and a great story to share when they go back to school on Tuesday.

The Durham Bulls lost the game but we won the day.