On the road...again

The Boys of Summer - Second Base, sequel to the award-winning first documentary, began principal photography on March 13, 2014. We need your help. Please visit our kickstarter page and share it with your friends and family.

 
Traveling back to the Bay Area is cathartic, scary and soul-enriching all at once. This weekend my family took its longest road-trip to date, from Las Vegas to Walnut Creek, CA and did brilliantly.

It's honestly hard to quantify all that we packed into this weekend+, but I'll list a few things that are resonating in my tired head as I ponder sleeping in the bed in the room I grew up in for one more night -- for now.

*Arriving at 1am and being greeted by my very tired but grateful parents.
*Spending the day in San Francisco on our first day here. My son eating clam chowder out of a sourdough bread bowl, as he'd only imagined was possible. Visiting Baker Beach, holding hands with my wife as we looked at the Golden Gate and felt the sand between our toes. Watching our son play in the sand and say, "I really like the beach".
*Shooting the new poster for the Boys of Summer sequel. I'll post more on this later as I need some votes and opinions as to which should be the photo to go with.
*Watching an A's game with my good friend Jonathan Okanes at a local dive bar. The A's won in dramatic, walk-off fashion and Coco Crisp got a pie in the face from Josh Reddick (Pie-derman!).
*Having lunch at an old favorite restaurant in Concord and hearing our son declare that Concord, as a whole, was a boring city.
*Daring a downpour to get to an A's game. Fighting for credentials, a good parking spot and eventually our way into the stadium and down onto the field as the rain stopped and we prepared for a brilliant night. Listening to the boos explode from the crowd about a half hour after the game was supposed to start when the PA announcer declared the game was cancelled due to poor field conditions.
*Seeing a group of great friends and some of their kids at a local park.
*Visiting with my dear Aunt, Uncle and Cousin for precious few minutes in my parents backyard.
*Attending a Hall of Fame dinner for the 1987 Ygnacio Valley basketball team I was a part of -- a team that shocked the world and somehow played for the state championship.
*Lying on the couch with my wife, watching some familiar reruns of Modern Family and feeling time slip away from this beautiful experience.

Baseball is a vehicle. It's part of what brought us here. I'm pulling at the metaphor as it's not all that brought us here, but it was enough to ensure the "necessity" of the trip -- in other words, the motivation that got us to go from idea to execution. That bridge is not to be underestimated. How many ideas, some we swear to be remarkable, never make it past the gatekeepers in our mind or the conversations of fancy with friends, co-workers and loved ones?

Baseball is a vehicle. I don't know where we're headed with this year's venture. We have three days left in our kickstarter and have raised only $200 of the $10,000 we need. It's not likely we're going to raise what we need to make that go - I get that. But I won't quit. I'm scared. I'm disappointed. I'm frustrated. But I'm a long way from quitting. I don't know how to quit. I don't want to. As I told my dad tonight at the Hall of Fame dinner, "We'll make it by hook or crook". Whatever it takes.

Spring Training - Cactus '14 (part four)

The Boys of Summer - Second Base, sequel to the award-winning first documentary, began principal photography on March 13, 2014. We need your help. Please visit our kickstarter page and share it with your friends and family.

Our final play for spring training involved a few things: first off, the closing night at the Nine Conference. The baseball/academic conference, which is run by Trey Strecker of Ball State University, is a great grouping of mostly university professors who get together annually during spring training to share their latest and greatest in how baseball impacts society. I was honored to speak on the documentary film panel Thursday night and sorry that I didn’t participate in anymore events until this one on the closing night. It was, however, very enjoyable.

George Gmelch, Professor of Anthropological Studies at the University of San Francisco, discussed his career as a minor league prospect with the Detroit Tigers in the 1960’s and contrasted what the game looked like then to how it looks now. I was fortunate enough to sit down with him for a few moments on Sunday morning. I will post a few clips from that interview soon.  

The takeaway from the weekend was one of empowerment, a feeling one only gets when he goes on the road. Add a family to that mix and it becomes all the more potent. I was very proud of my two and four year old for handling themselves as well as they did and embracing the adventure. This trip set a new mark for us as a family – with this, we will be able to reach out and explore new areas and landmarks via cars. Ten years ago, my father and I did just that when we travelled to all 30 MLB parks for the original Boys of Summer. Road work is tiring stuff – and incredibly powerful. Seeing places, meeting people, having your entire world view shifted…incredibly powerful indeed.

One of the greatest parts about this trip was the vehicle – not just our literal little family minivan trickster, which held up admirably, but the metaphorical vehicle that is baseball. Baseball brought us down to Phoenix. A quest for renewal. A desire to see winter put to bed and the Boys of Summer reawakened. A chance for hope to rise again, in the face of long, seemingly impossible odds. To see grass grow. To listen to the crack of the bat. To hear leather pop as the ball smacks into the lower pocket of the web. Nachos, hot dogs, pretzels, get ‘em while they’re hot and make sure to thank Grandpa with a hug and a kiss.

We don’t have a single donation for our kickstarter campaign, which is the bare minimum money that’s supposed to get us to the six parks we need to see this summer to complete the structural elements of the sequel documentary. In Field of Dreams, it was said if you build it, they will come. I do believe we have built it, now we must let more people know it is here so they may come. I appreciate your help in that regard.

Thank you and play ball!

Please visit our kickstarter page and share it with your friends and family.

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #133

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

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Two more letters of recommendation for our movie:

Domino’s Pizza

Sept. 13, 2005

Robert,

I apologize in my delayed response to you. I have been traveling quite a bit lately and didn’t have a chance to watch the DVD you sent me until this weekend.

I have to tell you that I was extremely moved by it. It has made me have a whole new appreciation for my dad and the relationship I have with him. Your film made me want to spend more time with him. 

You and your family are truly special. I fell in love with your Dad watching the documentary. I feel like I know each of you after watching your two-month adventure unfold. You have captured and told a very special story. 

I really liked how you thread the story together with shots of you and your dad playing catch. I also really liked how you wove in stories from other people while you were on the road, some about baseball and some about their experiences with Parkinson’s Disease.

Thank you very much for including Domino’s several times...I wish more people would have shown up for the tailgate in Detroit, but at least you and your dad had some warm food to keep you going. Hopefully the gift certificates came in handy throughout your journal. 

Also, that was a great picture at the end in a  Domino’s store. That was really nice of you to include your sponsors at the end in the way that you did with the short vignettes and pictures. We are honored that you selected a photo of Domino’s Pizza. 

Also, thank you for including me in your credits. You certainly didn’t have to do that...including Domino’s would have been plenty...but it is greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for sending me the DVD for an advanced screening. I feel very honored and privileged to have seen it before it hits the big screen.

Sincerely,

Holly Ryan

Domino’s Pizza Corporate Communications

**********************************************

Fox Sports

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to lend my support to a wonderful film called, “Boys of Summer.” I believe this piece is both necessary and timely for a disease that has affected do many in this country. It is a film about a journey a father and son take across the country to raise money and awareness for Parkinson’s Disease. Their trip takes them through this land as they follow their own baseball schedule, enjoying stadiums in far away places for the first time. What strikes me about this film is the love these two men share. It can be found in their cross-country conversations, or during a roadside game of catch, or their spontaneous hugs and kisses. It hit home with me because I traveled the same path with my dad late in his life.

My father, Jack Buck, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the early 90’s, just about the time I joined him in the Cardinal’s broadcast booth. I saw first hand how this terrible disease can cripple a human being who is otherwise in good health. The frustrations and difficulties which follow make the simplest things, like buttoning a shirt in the morning, so tough and sometimes humiliating. These two central figures keep the pedal to the metal as they keep late hours driving from city to city and ballpark to ballpark learning more about each other with every mile.

My understanding is that there has been remarkable progress made toward a cure for this affliction. If that is the case, what better way to send out the message that more can be done, while at the same time reminding everyone of the special healing nature of the great game of baseball. The smiles the two men share as they walk into a stadium for the first time are priceless, and the generosity shown by so many inside Major League Baseball will make those involved in the sport proud. This is a neat film, with a great message that needs to be heard. Thank you for your time...

Joe Buck

Fox Sports

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #132

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

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

June 20, 2005 - Bob

Los Angeles, CA

My focus has shifted as I’m embarking on another journey in just a few days. Back in the winter of 2004, I met a wellness expert named Gary Earl through Annamaria’s work at the corporate side of Caesars Palace. He heard about “Boys of Summer” from Annamaria and was touched as he has a son (Tommy), they both love baseball and Gary’s mom has Parkinson’s Disease. Although Gary and Tommy’s interview didn’t make the final cut of the movie (no offense, guys!), we got to talking. Gary mentioned his need to reach out and talk to more people across America about the health crisis we are facing. The way he’d do it? By hopping on a bicycle and riding coast to coast. 

His message and passion for it fascinated me. I told him I thought it would make a great documentary. Without much more discussion, he said, “Great!” 

Now, about nine months later, I’m preparing to leave at the end of this month with him on a 35 day, 3000+ mile bike ride across the country. I’ve never been a cyclist (save for the past four months, when I’ve been riding six days a week) though I did love my dirt bike as a kid. The adventure and the meaning behind it are too good to pass up. Saying yes was also made easier by being bitten by the “road bug” last summer -- it is infectious.

This will also give me a brief reprieve from “Boys of Summer” so I can come back to the film and the marketing of it with the notes from two screenings and a fresh set of eyes. 

In the final book form, the following will all be actual  photocopies of the letters. They are typed in here for reference.

Florentine Films (Ken Burns)

Aug. 15, 2005

Boys of Summer

The joy of Boys of Summer comes from its brilliant honesty. Working in the documentary world and being surrounded by its fierceness, rebelliousness, and alternative structure, I have come across many different types of documentaries, all with their own style. However, I have rarely come across a film that is so full of life, so comforting, and so truthful, yet, wonderfully simple. Robert Cochrane does not cloud his film with special effects, drawn out story lines, or unnecessary footage, but lets the story unfold gradually as the viewer travels from city to city, along for the ride. The nature of a documentary and Robert Cochrane does just that. He takes the viewer on a personal journey into his relationship with his father and shows how the two of them cope with his father's illness: with laughter, adventure, and love. Yet, most importantly, they cope with it together.

One of the greatest treasures of this film is how well we get to know the Cochranes. Robert does an excellent job of showing his father's humor and spirit. Even though his father is quiet and thoughtful through most of the journey, Robert is careful never to overshadow him. He is courageous in hi film making as he lets the camera capture his father's silences and subtle facial expressions. Robert himself is energetic and driven in his mission to raise money and spread the word about Parkinson's Disease. He is also very open about his trouble, his fears, and his mistakes along the way, but he perseveres through it all. The viewer is along for the ride, through all the parks, the games, the sleep-deprived nights, the hours of driving, and the aching homesickness, just as if every viewer is an old friend of the Cochrane family.

I challenge any person to watch this film and not desperately want to call Robert to personally ask how his father is doing. This film is truly inspiring and the drive behind it comes from pure love. I have asked many people to watch this film and all of them have been moved, sometimes to tears, sometimes to laughter, but always to try and make a difference themselves. I believe that this film is a real treasure. The camaraderie between the Cochranes would make anyone yearn for late night baseball tosses in the backyard and road trip adventures with their own father. 

Devon Ciampa

Assistant to Ken Burns

Florentine Films

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #106

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

Aug. 20, 2004 - Dad 

San Francisco, CA 

We are off on our last leg of our tour, the 850 mile return trip to the Bay Area. We allow two days so it's not too strenuous.

Our last ball game is in San Francisco at SBC Park. A beautiful park in a beautiful city. We had a small group which I think reflected the amount of energy we had left. But all of a sudden it was over. I was very tired and a bit disoriented and happy to have someone as young and energetic as Bob to complete the project.

Bob, I don't think I have ever thanked you for the experience of a life time. It was great to watch you grow and to just spend time with you. I thank you and I love you very much.

Aug. 20, 2004 - Bob

San Francisco, CA

SBC is beautiful. We parked in one of the lots across the footbridge and were able to tailgate with a good group of friends. It was weird being home in a way. Very matter of fact. Very much a feeling of, “well of course you made it” when so many times on the road it felt like anything BUT matter of fact. 

But here we are. Game #30.

We got interviewed by the local NBC affiliate’s, Vernon Glenn (“Mr. Involvement”). At one point after we’d reeled off answers we’d gotten quite used to answering, he said, “You guys really know what you’re doing.” After twenty-nine other parks and a good deal of media (and we were thankful for every last question!), yeah, we did have an idea of what we were doing. It was nice for me to see how comfortable dad had become in front of the camera. In Phoenix, at our first MLB game Dad was quite up tight. But now, he’s an “old” pro. 

It was great to share the game and the stadium with my Bella as she’d never been to a game at SBC. Dad and I had both been before, but not together. As we looked over the Bay, I was reminded of the beauty and the majesty of the place I am fortunate enough to call home, even though I haven’t lived here for quite some time. 

Park Number 30 (of 30), PacBell Park

San Francisco 7, New York Mets 3

 WP: N. Lowry (3-0)   LP: S. Trachsel (10-10) 

Oakland 9, Tampa Bay 5

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #105

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

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

August 12th, 2004 - Dad 

Lake Sawyer, WA

We had a great turnout of family and friends, a beautiful day and a great new facility, Safeco Field.

We have a few days for the family reunion at Lake Sawyer. With the help of our sister-in-law, Anita, we got Paulette to fly up. It was a very welcome rest.

Aug. 12th, 2004 - Bob

Lake Sawyer, WA

WHEEEEEEEEWWWWWW is the feeling. We made it. We’re with family. No need to do nuttin’ but hang out for a few days. Great food, great people, my Bella is here, my sis and her partner Migdalia are coming -- and mom has, through some coercion, decided to fly up with her brother and sister-in-law. I’m so glad she’s coming. It’s a HUGE relief for my dad, who had actually been talking about flying back immediately to be with mom otherwise (we’re planning on hanging out ‘til Monday or Tuesday, I think). Nice. 

It’s weird, not having any planning to do. The Giants game on the 20th is our last and it’s set up. It’s at home. Wow...I haven’t done the math yet, but we’ve put somewhere near 20K miles on the Explorer in just under two months. That is movin’, boy. 

I won’t be able to wrap my head around this stuff for a while, nor do I really want to. I just want to kick back. I know I owe my body and mind some down time, so I offer now.

Detroit 5, Oakland 3

WP: Mike Maroth LP: Justin Duhscherer

August 18th, 2004 - Bob

Walnut Creek, CA

The Home Stretch

I'm at the folks place in the Bay Area. This last stretch has been difficult as illnesses have taken their toll. My mom has been having a hard time for some time, it seems. I'm hoping with Dad back home she'll feel more able to get back in the swing of things. 

My Bella has been out for three days now too, coming down with an infection that has sapped her normal boundless energy. Just for good measure, my cousin Jeremy busted up his knee while wake boarding and my cousin Kaili took a header off the table she Annamaria and my cousin Sarah were dancing and landed in a bush with some seriously sharp branches. One of those branches ended up poking through her eyelid! She took it well -- was in fact joking about it the next day as part of this silly yearly video we do called the “Lake Sawyer News”. 

I didn’t have last year’s “Lake Sawyer News” package edited for this year (been a bit busy, as you may have been reading) and was told by my younger cousins not to come back next year without it. 

Sure is nice to know your worth.

Among the walking wounded, I came down with some kind of allergic reaction to the lake we were staying at in Seattle and went down for a day myself. Migraine, stomach pain, membrane insane...good times.

At any rate, we're back in the Bay Area now and have just one game to go -- the Giants on Friday. We have sold our 25 tickets and have our tailgate goodies ready to pick up from Whole Foods. We are also having a Public Service Announcement shot by a crew for the National Parkinson Foundation. Fingers crossed all goes well. This PSA is supposed to run nationally and there are several big celebrity names being tossed about as the possible voice over for it. 

I still haven't been able to wrap my head around this entire trip yet. It's too much, too soon. I look forward to pulling the plug for a few days, then getting back to Las Vegas and really seeing what we've got. There are a number of excellent interviews coming up and one with Joe Buck may also be coming up very soon. 

I think having finished the road trip element of the trip may go a long way toward showing people that this is more than an idea. Showing what we've done, where we're going and what it's all for is going to get more people to understand the tremendous possibilities and perhaps get involved themselves.

Oakland 5, Baltimore 4

W: Mark Mulder L: BJ Ryan

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #104

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

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Aug. 12th, 2004 - Dad

Seattle, WA

Bob and I were tired going into the trip but we were exhausted to the point of  hallucinating during it. I think we pulled over at a rest area but I don't know for sure. I think we arrived in Seattle around 7 a.m.. Time to catch a little sleep before our pre game party at Pyramid Brewery.

Bob:

Fourteen hours after departing the Bay Area, we pulled into our dear friends, the Auters, home in Seattle. I have many warm childhood memories of this house. We take a quick hug from our hosts, Don and Judy, then trudge on up to their daughter, Julie’s, old bedroom. We’re out in a flash...

...And up nary three hours later. I’ve never seen my dad this kind of tired. His face is literally hanging down. I decide not to look in the mirror.

We’re out the door and off to the Pyramid Brewery right next to Safeco. Pyramid is INCREDIBLE. They have given us a prime slot in their beer garden, provided beer, soda, water, delicious hors d’ouvres and all on a day they could have easily sold this spot for prime dollars. Instead, they’ve donated to the cause. Thank you Alex Krawless and Pyramid.

Our friends and family have indeed come out to the old ball game. I think all of the 62 tickets have been claimed. Quite a group!

Park Number 29 (of 30), Safeco Field

Minnesota 6, Seattle 3

WP: J. Santana (12-6)   LP: R. Franklin (3-11)

Detroit 5, Oakland 3

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #103

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

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Aug. 11 - continued

Bob (Later...):

Tough. Tough, tough and more tough. Mom has decided not to come. This was very hard on Dad, I know. The only reason my Mom wouldn’t be going on this trip is if she felt really, really sick.

Dad:

The next thing you know Bob and I are on our way to Seattle, alone. I really got a sense of how bad Paulette is feeling knowing how much she loves road trips. She loves Seattle and she loves all of our family and friends in Seattle, too. And she still could not make the trip.

Bob:

These reunions have become annual events as we learn each year more and more how valuable these get togethers are. And Mom won’t be making it. I can hardly believe that as I write it. It doesn’t seem right.

I know Dad feels terribly guilty about leaving her, too. But she insisted he go -- and there’s really nothing to do for my mom by being there. Again, she has food, a comfortable home and lots of friends and neighbors checking in on her. She just has to make the effort to check back into life...whenever she’s ready.

Aug. 12th, 2004 - Bob
Seattle, WA

At one point last night, my dad said the road began to look like purple jelly. That probably should have been enough to get us off the road entirely. Instead, we swapped back and forth on shorter and shorter intervals until we were doing more stopping than starting and we were better off taking a nap. We did just that, taking an uneasy and uneven 90 minute catnap in the Explorer at a rest stop.

I always have this fear that someone with a freshly cut off hand is going to come rapping at the window when pulled over in these situations...

I know what you’re thinking: how’s he gonna rap without a hand? Well he’s got another hand, doesn’t he? And don’t tell me a fresh nub doesn’t have it’s own particular, squishy rap.

Boys of Summer Book - Aug. 6, 2004

The Boys of Summer roll along, but we need your help to complete this year's journey. Please see our site for the latest on how to contribute. Thank you!

August 6, 2004 - Dad

Las Vegas, NV

Dad with then Colorado Rockies Manager, Clint Hurdle
at a game at Coors Field, Aug. 5, 2004.

We are off to an early start for a full day of driving. It is a very picturesque trip that goes by very quickly. What a difference a good night’s sleep and day light driving makes. 

We arrive in Las Vegas late in the afternoon. Annamaria has prepared a welcoming dinner for us. After dinner we go out to see a few sights. Bob drops me off at a casino to do some gambling.  

Coors Field from above.

August 7, 2004 - Bob

Las Vegas, NV

What a trip being back here in Sin City. Seven weeks to the day from when we started. It was a LOOOONG trip from Denver, but the familiarity of the west, with the staggering heights of the Rocky Mountains, the scent of the thick green pine trees and the long, open-planed stretches of desert that I at one point in my life found quite distasteful, made for good travel partners.

Vegas looks and sounds the same as when I left it -- ah, there's a police siren just now.  

Being here, I feel relaxed. I have no doubt at this point we’re going to be able to finish the trip financially. That burden being lifted is like a two-ton gorilla gone buh-bye. The rapidly growing gorilla, however, is the one that represents my mom’s health and her refusal to pick up the phone. The fact that she’s not answering and not calling back means, very simply, that she’s in a depression. We know that much. Is she in danger? Experience says no. She has food. She has a safe home. She has friends checking in on her. If my dad was there, not much would change.

That’s the intellectual truth. 

Arriving home to Annamaria in Las Vegas.

The emotional truth has my dad wondering if there’s not something more he could be doing. My mom has been going through this for about 10 years. The length of her depressions has been increasing. She is getting treatment, and yet, the problem doesn’t seem to be getting better. It’s such a strange illness. My mom is about as outgoing and social of a woman as you could ever imagine. To label her “depressed” just doesn’t seem to fit. 

But it does. 

Depression is also a common condition for Parkinsonians. That’s one of the big concerns about mom’s health is that dad could “slide down” with her if he’s not careful. I’m very concerned about that -- at the same time doing my best to respect they’re adults (my parents for Pete’s sake) and have the right to make their own choices, even if I see something I think would be a better choice for them.

Is this what parenting is like?

Dad after a night on the town in Las Vegas.
He hit a royal flush as he's apt to do.

To the end of letting my dad be, I’ve honored his request to have some alone time in the casinos. He has a favorite not far from our apartment where he’s had some luck before (dad really is pretty lucky in the gambling department -- save for the one time he was $50 up at a blackjack table and got kicked out for counting cards). The gaming is, I think, so much mental calisthenics for my dad. It’s a release and he’s not (again, to my knowledge) betting crazy amounts. He has fun and forgets about life for a while. God love him. 

For me, my jackpot is being with my Bella again. She had the traditional “Welcome Home” sign up over the door when we arrived and a beautiful lasagna in the oven. What more could you ask for? I’m very glad she's coming to San Diego and Los Angeles with us this weekend as well.

The Boys of Summer roll along, but we need your help to complete this year's journey. Please see our site for the latest on how to contribute. Thank you!

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 #94

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

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

August 1, 2004 - Bob
Milwaukee, WI

Happy August. My stomach’s troubling me a bit this morning. Too much spicy food -- I know better but I do so much enjoy it.

Fun Sign on the way to Milwaukee: “The Mars Cheese Castle” on the 94.

I feel sick, frankly. Heart sick and soul sick. I’m thinking about Bella and hoping she’s well. In the meantime, I’m just not feeling well. I’m worried about money. We’ve come this far and -- I have to believe we’re going to make it. I don’t let dad in on this because I don’t want him to worry. This trip is a gift to him and I want to keep it as such.

It is what it is. I have choices to make and I’m making them. Life continues to turn in the fashion that it does -- back upon itself. Work and be -- know that where you are is a natural extension of the choices made. The choices made...the choices made...

On the road to Milwaukee

As we’re driving to Milwaukee, my dad got hungry. We didn’t have time to pull over, so I offered to spoon feed him some fruit as he was driving. As I was doing so, it sparked a memory for him:

DC:
I was in the hospital when mom was dying --

RC:
Your mom - Grandma.

DC:
Right. The last thing she said to me before she died, as I was feeding her applesauce. “Imagine this. I started off feeding you and here you are feeding me.” That was the last thing she said.

RC:
And how did that make you feel?

DC:
It made me feel like she was going to be dying pretty soon. She was in and out of a coma. All her vital signs were failing. It was nice to have the recognition from her. It hadn’t been there for a couple of days before that. So that’s what I saw in her eyes was the recognition. And that was nice.

I thought about that for a moment and felt a bit uncomfortable with the parallel, me feeding my dad.

RC:
But as you said when we were getting interviewed at the Jake, you’re not planning on dying any time soon.

DC:
No.

RC:
That’s good. Especially since you’re driving right now.

DC:
I’m not planning on doing a Thelma and Louise.

RC:
And to clarify, when I talk about our sense of urgency for this trip, I’m not planning on you going along any time soon, either. But I think there is just a large X-Factor that has entered the equation and that is the Parkinson’s. The ability to do this trip with maximum enjoyment has you as mobile as possible so we can do this as freely as possible. At this point, you’re getting around just fine. Maybe a little bit slower but nothing that has impeded our trip. And that’s all I mean by taking this trip while we have the opportunity to. To do this on the level we want to. It’s like the story I like to tell about the people I met on the cruise ship when I was working there as 24 year old. They’d be in their 60’s or later and, yes, they got to be there, but they weren’t able to enjoy it the way they would have at 24. Age seems kind of like an earthquake magnitude. Every tenth of a number isn’t just one degree stronger, it’s something like 30 times the magnitude with each increment -- seems the same with each year in a life, especially later in life.

DC:
That’s a fact.

Boys of Summer - Entry #51

July 3, 2004 - Dad

Red Top Mountain State Park, GA 

We are up and on the road again by 7 a.m.  We plan to drive to Atlanta today.  We stop at St. Augustine to check out the beach before turning inland.  We turn west at Jacksonville and before long are crossing into Georgia.  

After 12 hours on the road, we reach Atlanta and have a donated dinner at Sweet Tomatoes (thank you, Sweet). Then it’s off to find Red Top Mountain State Park which is 15-20 minutes north of Atlanta. By the time we find the park, it is dark. We are getting pretty good at setting up camp in the dark. The temperature cools off to the low 70’s which makes for a better night’s sleep.

July 3rd, 2004 - Bob

Red Top Mountain State Park, GA 

As I was tired last night and going about business that I felt needed to be done, I thought to myself, I hope I don’t “work” this trip away. There are good things to enjoy along with the work elements (necessary as they are). Do my work and release myself to the moment, I keep saying.

Today was a long (but scheduled as such) drive from Miami to Atlanta. It’s all a part of the experience. There’s a long way to go and every day is special -- even the seemingly mundane stuff like long drives. It does afford good, uninterrupted time to talk and listen to radio-magazine programs on NPR. 

It’s strange and more than a little difficult to see my dad get tired as he does or not be able to move or lift as he once did -- not that any of these things make up the core of who he is, but they are part of my perception of him. Seeing him slip a bit physically takes away the Herculean idea most boys have (or had) of their father.

I remember my dad as the iron man who ran 6-8 miles a day. The Bay to Breakers was a classic run where we’d drop him off in San Francisco (“it’s so early” I think I whined once or twice -- yeah, “poor us”, we actually had to wake up to sleep in the back seat as Dad and 10’s of thousands of other psychos challenged the Hayes Street Hill). We’d meet Dad at the end, struggling to find him in the sea of humanity -- but always finding him, usually by his smile and his arms in the air (complete with very sweaty pits -- dad was quite a sweater).

I remember when I was a little boy, camping at Big Sur (near Monterey, CA). We climbed what seemed like an insurmountable hill and my dad smacked tennis balls up at us. We squealed with delight as the balls came near us and occasionally hit us. I’ve been back to that hillside since -- it’s not nearly as precarious as it seemed as a kid. I had the feeling that any of these balls could knock us loose from our “hiding place” and we’d go tumbling down the hill to...well, I guess those leaves wouldn’t have been too bad to land in.

I remember, too, a time where Dad and me were riding our bikes home from church (I was probably  about eight): A dog tore out of a yard we were passing by, barking and nipping at my heels. I was scared to death. My dad turned and fired a rock (where he got it I have no idea), he either hit the dog or scared it bad enough to have it scamper back to it’s yard. 

 “Keep your dog in your yard!” My dad bellowed. 

A tear of fear turned into a tear of pride just like that. The hero’s legend grew.

Once when I was in high school, my dad (in nothing but his well-worn tighty-whities) unwittingly came face to face with a cheese thief in our garage. I mean it -- the guy was stealing ten-pound block of mozzarella cheese (my dad makes great pizza). When my dad opened the door to the garage, he and the thief took one look at each other, screamed and ran in opposite directions. A moment later, my dad regained his wits (sort of), went out into the street (still in nary more than those tighty whiteys) and tore the license plate off a van that he was pretty sure harbored the dangerous cheese thief. The huge police dog that eventually flushed the thief out of the van had nothing on my dad.

So now the flesh from his chin sags slightly. His jaw is often slack, an effect of Parkinson's -- sometimes making it look as if he has gone away. Part of him, physically, has. And though that hurts, I know his mind and spirit are fully in tact. I see Dad and I as two souls on a different path (at least, by the time I entered this realm). We have clashed or, perhaps even more painfully, simply not connected and not understood how to many times throughout our lives. 

But I see now, in this blessed time we get to spend together, that we are far less different than either he or I once imagined. I love and am thankful for him -- all of him -- every day.