Boys of Summer Book - Entry #68

July 11, 2004 - Mom

Toronto, ONT

I woke up with my migraine the next morning. It was so bad -- right over the right orbital. These are the worst ones and they are a sign of depression for me. I just took heavy duty Excederin and put ice on my head. I didn’t know what else to do. I threw up. I got up and tried to be around when everyone came home from the game. I really didn’t think that it was the depression. But that’s what happens every time I get a migraine. 

It scared me. It crossed my mind that it could have been depression, but then I would go into denial. I talk to myself and say there’s no reason this could be depression. I’m here with the Payzants and Danny. 

July 11, 2004 - DAD

Toronto, ONT

We finally hear from the Blue Jays that we will be given pre game press passes and tickets to the game. There are 10 of us.  Paulette has a migraine for the first time in 2 years, and is not able to join us.  

We arrive at Sky Dome at 11:30. There is no batting practice because it is picture day. We are on the field in time to watch the roof open. Our contact with the Blue Jays informs us that our planned interview with Greg Zahn, cannot be accommodated. On our way off the field we run into Greg and are able to spend a few minutes with him. 

Our seats are behind home plate but up high in the fifth section. The game between the Jays and the Angels seems to move at a lazy pace. The Jays are outdone by the Angels in front of a crowd of 16,000. Toronto is in a rebuilding mode. After the game we return to the Payzants for dinner and an early night. We all look forward to the All-Star break, a chance to get caught up with laundry, car maintenance and relax.

Park Number 11 (of 30), Sky Dome

Anaheim 5, Toronto 2

 WP: J. Lackey (7-8)   LP: M. Batista (8-6)

Sarcasm alert:

It was neat, the A’s last win...I think it happened in 1994.

Tonight’s score: Cleveland 4, Oakland 1

July 12, 2004 (Early AM) - BOB

Toronto, ONT

It is a beautiful morning in Toronto. I talked to Todd (the Payzant’s son and a close childhood friend who moved away just before high school) last night and damn that was fun. He’s a great guy. Same guy -- still a little boy at heart. I have tons of great memories and I couldn’t be more happy for him and how well his life seems to be going. I really hope I get to see him. 

My mind is a blur right now from talking to my dad -- he has concerns about mom, the second half off the trip, various elements we have lined up vs. those that aren’t (we seem outweighed heavily by the “not lined up” category right now).

My dad’s points, questions and concerns are all valid. The point, for me is to stay open and in the realm of possibility how things may work out positively. I do not have things “nailed down” 100 percent -- that’s been our operating system since day one, though. I think the concerns about mom, seeing her be sick again (she has a migraine headache) is what’s eating most at dad. The possibility of a difficulty...ah...my head’s not working. I’ll write more on this later. 

Boys of Summer book Entry #56

INTERVIEWING JEFF SHINHOLT & SONS

Our Baltimore friend/contact (who has Parkinson's Disease)

Bob:
How has Parkinson’s Disease affected you as a father?

JS: It’s caused me to think a little bit more about the long term effects of Parkinson’s. But right now I’m just living day to day...you don’t just sit here and count the days as they go by you make every day count. 

Bob:
Can you tell me about the best play you ever made in little league?

JS:
Best play I ever made in little league was when I was 12 years old. I played third base. There was a left handed hitter and the last time he was up I know he came my way. So I shied over toward the line a little bit and he lined one right down the line. And I dove for it, got airborne, snagged the ball. It was the last out of the game and my teammates came out and put me on my shoulders. That was probably the best experience I can remember growing up with little league.

Bob:
What was your feeling when you heard about your dad having Parkinson’s Disease?

Michael Shinholt(MS):
Well, at that point, I didn’t really know what it was so, I thought, what’s this going to be like? Is anything really going to change?  Now with this whole running thing it’s really part of his life now.

Bob:
Have things changed for you in your perception of your dad?

MS:
I don’t really think of him that much different because it doesn’t seem to affect him that much. He ‘s just...he’s always been the same dad to me.

Bob: (TO YS)
What did you think when you heard about your dad having Parkinson’s?

YOUNGER SON:
I didn’t know what it was either so I didn’t really care.

Bob:
Did it scare you?

YS:
Not really.

Bob:
You’ve seen your dad has had some changes since then.

YS:
Yeah.

Bob:
How does that make you feel?

YS:
It doesn’t make me feel bad like...it doesn’t make me feel any different.

Bob:
You still love your dad the same?

YS:
Yeah.

Bob: Why is baseball important for fathers and sons?

JS:
We’ve built memories together. We’ve gone to baseball games for birthday parties and things like that where 10 years down from now we’ll be able to look back, look at the pictures and say, remember that? You were 10 years old and we brought your buddies out to the ball game and we almost caught a couple of foul balls. I remember one time during the All-Star practice, my son and I came out and we caught a foul ball. We had to wrestle for it with a couple of other guys but we came up with it and it was our ball. That was a fun thing to do and a memory I’ll always have.

Bob: (to MS):
Do you remember that one?

MS:
No.

JS:
(laughs) ‘Cause I got the ball.

Park Number Seven (of 30) at Camden Yards

Tampa Bay 3, Baltimore 1 Park #7
WP: M. Hendrickson (6-6)   LP: R. Lopez (6-5)

A’s were SLAMMED by Boston, 11-0 -- ewwwwwww...