Month: September 2018

Some people have asked if I get lonely on the road. Not very often; I like to spend time alone. Of course, it helps that I can stay in touch with people so easily through emails, texts, and phone calls. But once in a while I do get lonely.

A movie theatre advertised a funny old movie I had watched with my brother, and I thought that if we were in the same area, we might go see it again and laugh. Then we have family traditions, like going to the botanic garden around Father’s Day or my dad’s birthday, and I missed them both. Some weekends I’ll be in areas with cute little shops and see pairs of women, and I’ll hear, “Mom, look at this!”  “Mom!” “Hey, Mom,” and I’ll think, Ohh! I want to be here with my mom! At least I still have the option.  

Another time, I went to a baseball game in West Virginia. I’ve never been into team sports, so I thought I should attend a sporting event just to see what I’ve been missing. The capitol city was scheduled to host a minor league baseball game the night I’d be driving through, so I decided to go. That night also happened to be their weekly Take Your Dog to the Park Night, a novelty designed to generate public interest.  

I naively assumed that people who attended baseball games were baseball fans. What I discovered was that hardly anyone in the stands paid attention to the game. Kids ran wild through empty rows, slid down handrails, and badgered their parents for concession stand money. High schoolers met up with friends, ate nachos, and chatted, never glancing at the field. Couples ordered beers and talked with other couples. Some people texted nonstop. Then there were those who brought their dogs, making sure their dogs were fed, watered, exercised, relieved, and petted, while throwing out compliments and questions to other pet owners.  

A major league game might be different. This ballpark seemed to be purely a hangout venue, and I was there alone. I could have talked to other people sitting in the stands. I could have talked to the players or the employees. I could have talked to dog owners about their animals. But I didn’t.  

Another activity I had wanted to try was cheering insanely at a sporting event. Here was my chance to try two new things at once! In reality, since hardly anyone was watching the game, there wasn’t a whole lot of clapping to begin with, let alone the roaring crowds heard at major league playoffs.  

I started out by politely clapping for the home team when they made a play. But I thought it was cool when anyone made a good play, no matter what team they were on. For a little while, I clapped for both teams. Even though the audience seemed lukewarm, I remembered how insane fans can get, covered in body paint and team logos, and I didn’t want to get beat up for clapping for the wrong side. It felt strange only clapping for one team, though. It’s not like I had anything against the visiting team. Why shouldn’t I show appreciation for their effort, too? Plus, I didn’t live around there, so I didn’t know the home team, and I didn’t have any allegiance with them. Unfortunately, with all the rationale, by the end of the game, I wasn’t clapping for either team, even though that felt just as awkward. And I realized how ridiculous I was, sitting there alone, reasoning out why I should or shouldn’t clap, knowing that no one else would have cared either way, and even if they did, why should that have stopped me? Meanwhile, the rest of the ballpark was enjoying spending time with their friends, both human and canine.  

I could have cheered, no matter who else was or wasn’t cheering, no matter what team made a good play. I could have started a trend! But I didn’t. It was too out of character.  

My feeling about going to a game alone was that my time would be better spent elsewhere. But I was glad I went so that I knew I wasn’t missing anything.  If a friend ever wants to meet up at a game, I suppose it’s as good a place as a coffee shop or a city park.

I think what I really hope to be better at is cheering on other people in life, not just professional athletes at a sporting event, and there doesn’t need to be any insane yelling involved to accomplish that.