Boys of Summer Book - Entry #96

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

August 3rd, 2004 - Dad
Kansas City, MO

We are on the road to St. Louis, about a four hour drive, when we realize that Bob left his cell phone back in Vedersburg about twenty minutes back. We make a quick trip to find Tom and Suzy waiting in the driveway with the phone. 

We have no problem in reaching St. Louis for the 7 p.m. game. It is a very hot and humid day in St. Louis.  It feels like the hottest day we have experienced. The first thing we notice about the St. Louis fans is that most of them wear red.  Inside the stadium it is like a sea of red. 

The game goes into extra innings and we decide that, because we have to drive through the night to Kansas City, we should leave the game before it ends (the first time this has happened on this trip).  There will be a tailgate party in Kansas City put on by a local Parkinson group. 

We drive through a very heavy rainstorm that is regularly interrupted by thunder and lightening.  We arrive at our hotel at about 3 a.m.

Park Number 22 (of 30), Busch Stadium

Montreal 10, St. Louis 6
WP: C. Cordero (3-1)   LP: D. Haren (0-2)

Oak 13, NY Yankees 4

August 4th - Dad
On the road to Denver, CO

The local Parkinson group arranged for two hotel rooms for us in a hotel that overlooks Kaufman Field. By the time we awoke, the storm had passed. 

We went out to find a Whole Foods Market and finally did after driving by it twice. It was no bigger than a 7-11 store and in a very old building. 

After eating breakfast, we went looking for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. We found a very attractive building that combined both Baseball and Jazz Museums. We met Bob Kendrick, director of Marketing for the Negro League Museum. He gave us a very inspiring view of the  history of baseball through the influence of the Negro League.  

Next we were off to a tailgate party at Kaufman Field. There is a very good turn out for a local Parkinson group and it is a good opportunity to spend time with a number of Parkinsonians. Before we know it is time for the game.

Kaufmann Field is now one of the older parks. It is very well maintained and very attractive. We are limited in our ability to enjoy the game by the knowledge that we have to drive through the night to Denver, a distance of 600 miles.

Aug. 4, 2004 - Bob

Kaufmann Field is beautiful, a classic -- not like the “originals” (say Fenway and Wrigley), but one of those that came around in the 60’s/70’s and was done well. The fountains work here (they don’t look as put-upon as the ones in Anaheim, for instance). The feel is definitely midwest and friendly. The open outfield with the huge Royals logo is (fittingly) majestic.

Park Number 23 (of 30), Kaufmann Stadium

Kansas City 11, Chi Sox 0
WP: B. Anderson (2-9)   LP: S. Schoeneweis (6-9)

NY Yankees 8, Oakland 6

*********
 

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #89

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Interviewing my dad, driving from Detroit to Minneapolis

 for the Young Onset Parkinson's Network Conference

RC:
How was it listening to John talk?

DC:
I thought that he seemed a little more introspective. I wouldn’t say depressed. He seemed a little more negative. He seemed to be maybe it was because of the questions he was being asked. He seemed to be spending a little more time on the negative aspects of his life and I know that’s probably not hard to do considering what his life consists of, but...maybe he was just revisiting it and in the daylight it seemed more so. We didn’t spend an awful lot of time talking to him about him last time so that may be the reason it seemed that way to me. But your comment about his sweetness that’s still there. He’s a very nice person. He’s caught in a body that’s not very nice to him.

RC:
How do you feel about the idea of an act of God as a release point for Parkinson’s?

DC:
I think I know what it means -- it means you can’t find any other reason for it. But the implication is that somebody did something to me...somebody named “God” and I don’t think that’s the case. I know I’m being a bit argumentative and fine-pointing it, but that’s what it sounds like to me.

RC:
What is having Parkinson’s to you then?

DC:
It’s just bad luck. Chance. One of those genes tripped the wrong way. And it may or may not have been environmental. I doubt that it’s genetic, but we don’t know that. So I just mark it up to chance.

RC:
So then does it become more important, perhaps, do focus on what you’ll do with it than how you got it?

DC:
Yeah. How I got it is really more important to other people. People who may have it. People who may get it. I’d like for other people to avoid it if it’s possible. The answer to that may be somewhere down the road. Down this road, maybe.

RC:
How do you feel about the trip at this stage -- 19 games in?

DC:
I’m happy we’re headed west. I’ll be happy to be back with Paulette and I certainly will miss the experience. It’s something I’m sure I’m going to think about and reflect on for the rest of my life. It’s a pretty extraordinary thing we’re doing. And the thought of it still seems so.

RC:
How has time felt to you out here?

DC:
At times it goes by very slowly, like driving in the rain yesterday. In difficult situations where traffice is a problem or directions are a problem. But then there are times where it goes by in a blink of an eye Like during a game or a fun meal together, certainly when I’m sleeping. You know I think I’m sleeping as well as I’ve slept in a long time. And I’m guessing it’s because what we’re going through is tiresome.

RC:
You feel like you’re having full days every day?

DC:
Yeah. And that’s good.

RC:
Do you remember Jimmy Valvano’s description of a full day?

DC:
Laugh, cry and...challenge yourself?

RC:
Take time to think.

DC:
Take time to think. Well, I’m not sure I do all of those things every day -- in fact I’m sure I don’t. But they’re in there.  It’s not a bad idea. Not a bad pursuit.

RC:
When was the last time you were moved to tears?

DC:
It wasn’t too long ago. I think it was over when we were at Gary and MaryAnn Mortensens.

RC:
What was it that moved you to tears?

DC:
I’m not sure whether it was something he was doing or something she was saying. I think it was something that MaryAnn said. I can’t remember what it was. It was while we were out in the boat.

RC:
Did it catch you by surprise?

DC:
Apparently.

RC:
Crying is not something you do often.

DC:
Ummm...actually more often all the time. It’s pretty easy for me to cry at a movie or a poignant moment.

RC:
Is that a change for you?

DC:
I think so.

RC:
When did you notice that the tears were more natural for you?

DC:
It may have been through the different circumstances we’ve gone through with Christine. With addiction and certainly with AlAnon. And then reconciling ourselves -- the reconciliation. We were lost for a few years. Those were some very emotional circumstances that touched me.

RC:
Five parks in five days -- what do you think about what we’ve just done?

DC:
A blur -- that’s how I’d describe it.

RC:
What stands out?

DC:
It’s funny -- the one thing that stands out is that chance meeting with those girls (at the gas station) in Pennsylvania.

RC:
What stands out about that?

DC:
Well, I had gone to the bathroom, which was way in the back in a dark area, and when I came out you were talking to them and it was a lot of life and energy which seemed to contrast with -- what was it 3- 4 o’clock in the morning in the middle of nowhere. These young ladies were on the trip similar to ours. They were baseball fans. And they were very full of energy and interested in what we were doing.

RC:
So that was enjoyable?

DC:
Very enjoyable. They were nice people. The whole thing was extraordinary.

RC:
What do you think about Montreal?

DC:
(laughs) Montreal is, I’m sure a better place than I remember it. It has to be. (The rest of Canada) wouldn’t wait for them to secede they’d kick them out if it was what it appeared to be to me.

RC:
Can you spell “west” in French?

DC:
F-U-C-K. Sorry -- Q-U-E-S-T.

RC:
I believe it’s O-U-E-S-T.

DC:
Oh yeah. See there you go. I just love that place. No wonder I couldn’t find my way around, I was looking for the “Q”.

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #86

Park Number 19 (of 30), Olympic Stadium

Montreal 19, New York Mets 10
 WP: L. Ayala (3-6)   LP: S. Erickson (0-1)
July 26, 2004 - Bob
Morrisburg, ONT

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Only a few minutes to drop the thoughts, and so I proceed:

I had two very potent dreams last night:

1) That I was about to go on stage at a talent show -- I was going to do a song I wrote called, “The work”. Though last night I had dubbed it: “You will not outwork me” -- a much wordier title for no good reason. Note to self: word economy, even in dreams, is good practice.

2) The other was a dream where I was on the golf course with my dad. I hit a bizarre shot that actually went 360 degrees and landed right next to me. There were some jackals (4 of them) waiting up by the tee and they started hooting and laughing hysterically. I went up and told them to keep it down so my dad could get his next shot off. They acted like they were going to be quiet, but they didn’t really do that. I then threatened them and my dad told them to “shut the fuck up”. They started getting aggressive and I took out the golf club and used it like a staff -- whooping all their asses. My dad hit a nice tee shot and off we went.

What’s up with the violence in my dreams?

5 games in 5 days. Minnesota, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Montreal. Whew. Oh and don’t forget a brief visit to Cooperstown in between. A hell of a lot of smiles and experiences. Dad was referencing our luck w/rain delays -- not having them -- today. No doubt -- but we still have a ways to go! No cursing us, please!

Last night in Montreal was absolutely bizarre. We showed up late and tried to rush through a city with signs we couldn’t read -- French, French everywhere and not an ounce of the ability to read it within us.

We were late pulling in, we couldn’t find our way to the stadium, because (again because everything was written in French) and we were definitely pressing. Then we get there and knock off the sign... because of our soft top carrier...so we wait (late for the game while Charlie Security decides what he’s going to do with us).

We end up getting out and we walk around this empty slab of concrete shaped like a space ship, unable to find anything but a few scalpers. We buy tickets (getting a little bit of a deal -- by the way is there a tougher gig than trying to scalp tickets to an Expos game? What do you think is going to happen when only 6,643 are showing up to a stadium that holds 42,000? Now, I’m no economist, but the law of supply and demand tells me this ain’t an easy gig.)

At any rate, we get in and there’s this odd haze that floats along the almost shiny concrete walls (is concrete supposed to shine?). The smells are reasonably pleasant but, again, everything here is written in French, so what might smell good might be...snails? I did order a piece of cheese pizza (as the Veggie was no more) and they snuck a piece of Canadian Bacon in it under the cheese. Didn’t fool me -- I tossed it and went on my Veggie way. We walk into the game, bottom of the 3rd and it was like somebody hit the switch and transformed us to the inside of a Playstation game.

The Expos dropped seven runs on the Mets that half-inning and made it look easy. Tony Batista, 3rd basemen for the Expos, had the most gaudy numbers for the night: 4-5, 3 runs scored and 6 RBI’s. We had a big time know-it-all behind us to confirm these facts. “I’m not sure,” I told my dad, “But this guy may know about all there is to know -- period.”

Then there were a group of young men (I think) dressed in very colorful outfits for no apparent reason. After one guy (and again, I’m assuming here) in a cat suit got a foul ball, it was apparently time to put the cat and his crew out. I tried to chase them down for an interview but they were gone. Security told me they “chose” to leave. Sure. I know cats. They don’t choose like that. Then again, maybe French-Canadian ones do. I don’t know all cats.

Getting out of the city, we took a while to make sure we knew we knew exactly where we were going -- checking the map and all those French road signs -- again, not easy. In the midst of it all, I almost hit a biker -- near tragedy. We finally got on the highway and rolled. Roll-roll-roll...

 

Oak 14, Sea 5

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #84

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

July 26, 2004 - BOB

Cooperstown, NY

This is our second change of schedule date -- bolting up to Montreal so that we avoid the one day turnaround to Minnesota. We switched Kansas City until later in the trip, too. It’s going to be wild -- what am I saying? It has been wild. But so far it’s good.

We’re at Cooperstown today. It was great and filled with greatness. There is another huge feeling of those who get it versus those who don’t for me here. The folks at Cooperstown definitely “get it”. 

With their kindness and openness it just makes a world of difference. Something dad said really resonated with me too: different people might get it on certain days and not so much on others. I know I fall into that category. Everyone has that opportunity each day to choose what they will and will not do and how open he will be to the opportunities that present themselves. 

I choose to be open (and for the moment, I’m actually conscious -- cool). 

We may be late to the Montreal game, but that’s okay. They actually are approved to move (we heard) -- leaving Toronto as the one and lonely in Canada. The Expos just couldn’t get it done -- it being generate enough interest, I suppose -- and so it is they’ll be in Washington, D.C. next year. What will the new team be called? Something in memory of the negro leagues? “The Greys”, we heard one man in D.C. suggest. That would be really cool.

Interesting suggestion made by New York Times columnist and one I hadn’t pondered before. Are there a declining numbers of (American) blacks in the game? What does that mean?