World Series

In the best-of-seven series Fall Classic, I got to be in McCovey Cove for the Giants’ 11-7 Game 1 win in San Francisco, and was relaxing with the “fellas” at Blinky’s Can’t Say for the Giants’ 9-0 Game 2 win. Could life get any better?

“Might the Giants win the World Series after a long 56 year drought?”

The first ever World Series title for the Giants since they moved to San Francisco back in 1958?

Up two games to none in the series, things were looking good as the Giants were traveling to the Ballpark in Arlington, Texas for Game 3.

Nothing would have been as great as watching the World Series in San Francisco, but the day before Game 4 in Texas, I decided to get a flight, room, and ticket, just in case they won it all! I was only my way to see the Giants play Game 4 of the World Series in Texas!

While flying to Texas, I was able to get score updates of Game 3 from a Giants fan sitting behind me with his laptop. With high hopes of a Game 3 and 4 win, which would make the Giants World Series Champions, it was saddening to hear the Game 3 score updates: “4-1 Rangers, 4-2 Rangers…Rangers Win Game 3.”

“Oh well, at least I will be able to see a World Series game, even though the game I will see has no chance to be the ‘Clincher’,” I said to myself during the flight. I marched right to the baggage claim with my baseball glove in my hand, grabbed my bag, slipped on my Giants hat, and found a taxi to my hotel in Arlington.

Placing my bags down in the hotel, I turned on the television to watch the news coverage of the World Series Game 3.

“The Rangers’ Colby Lewis pitched a gem.”

“The Giants offense was calmed by the Texas pitching.”

“The Rangers beat the Giants in Game 3, 4-2.”

I could only root and hope for a win in Game 4.

But then again, what if the Giants actually did win Game 4? Well, they would have a chance to win it all…in Game 5.

With a day off work for Monday’s Game 5, I knew that if the Giants won Game 4, I was immediately going to make changes to my flight and immediately look for a Game 5 ticket!!!

Through all of this, Leith was very supportive of me. She was truly the one I was able to communicate my excitement about the World Series with, even though she was over 5,000 miles away.

“The Giants’ Madison Bumgarner pitched an eight-inning shutout, and a two-run homerun by Aubrey Huff gives the Giants a 4-0 Game 4 win, and a 3-1 advantage in the series!”

Teased, booed, and taunted by the fans of the Rangers, and surrounded by red, white, and blue Rangers apparel, the Giants and I survived a win in Game 4. Now, I have the chance to see the Giants win the World Series!!!

The morning of Game 5 was one of those rare mornings in which I actually wanted to get out of bed. I was very, very excited. Could this be it?

I arrived to the Rangers’ Ballpark at about 1:00pm (about six hours before first pitch). There was lots of red, white, and blue surrounding the Ballpark. I had lots of conversations about baseball with the seemingly hospitable fans of the Rangers, lots and lots of media buses pouring into the Ballpark, on the lookout for any players, and was also curious to check out the new Cowboy Stadium next-door to the Ballpark, so I checked that out too. About three hours before first pitch, when I was finally able to enter the ballpark and rush down to the dugout, I snagged the opportunity to meet and have my baseball signed by the friendly and warm outfielder for the Giants, Cody Ross.

“Bottom of the fourth, tied ballgame.”

http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12947707&topic_id=14873508&c_id=sf

“Lincecum and Lee are in the pitchers’ dual much of the baseball world anticipated.”

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?tcid=mm_tex_vid&c_id=tex

Comforted by the family of four Giants fans, all with very orange Giants shirts and memorabilia, I felt the warmth, and realized I was not alone in this experience.

“Bottom of the sixth, 0-0.”

Were the Giants about to break my heart? Will there need to be a Game 6 or Game 7? I was starting to feel uneasy about being a visitor, rooting on the visiting team, in a tied game in the late innings.”

“Lee pitches...Renteria hits a high drive, deep left-center field, David Murphy going back, he's on the warning track, IT IS...GOOONNNNE! Edgar Renteria...has hit a three-run homer...against Cliff Lee! And the Giants lead here in the World Series, 3-0! Edgar Renteria, the World Series hero, and its 3-0 here...the Giants are nine outs away...”

http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12948407&topic_id=14873508&c_id=sf

Dave Flemming’s call was a beautiful, beautiful thing.

After plowing through the Rangers’ line-up, Tim Lincecum found himself finished with the eighth inning, having given up only one run and striking out ten…a homerun from the bat of Nelson Cruz. The Giants were up 3-1, and closer Brian Wilson was in to win the World Series for the Giants!!! Am I DREAMING?!?

When the ninth and final inning came, I rushed down to field level near the Giants dugout. There was a magical, unexplainable sound and vibe for Giants fans around the Ballpark, yet surrounded by red, white, and blue.

Brian Wilson, facing Nelson Cruz in the final out of Game 5:

“Cruz waiting on Wilson. And the right hander for the Giants throws...SWING AND A MISS! AND THAT'S IT! The Giants are world champions, as they come POURING OUT OF THE DUGOUT....circling Brian Wilson! The bullpen...flying in from left-center field...dancing, hugging…celebrating for all you Giants fans, wherever you are... Giants fans...this party is just getting started!” (Call by Duane Kuiper).

http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12948407&topic_id=14873508&c_id=sf

At the front of the dugout and players all wet in champagne, I was on a high. The Giants fan to my left caught the jersey thrown by Brian Wilson. The Giants fan to my right caught the goggles Sergio Romo was wearing for the champagne celebration. And what I remember most was the look of pure happiness and celebration of Giants Nation. I was in Seventh Heaven.

Bon Anniversaire

I just cannot believe it’s been a year already. That is by far the fastest 365 days I have lived through. On March 7, 2009 on a sunny beautiful Saturday (despite the “3” and “7”…so sorry Leith!), I was so giddy to meet at the end of Camp Joy Road with the love of my life, that I struggled to contain myself. I knew she loved animals. I knew she was intelligent. I knew she was gorgeous. As in the book Leith got for me as an anniversary gift, "This is the Story of Our Relationship So Far"...

I was getting the unforgettable privilege of meeting the one and only Leith and her beautiful, amazing dogs for a dog walk that I can always count on looking back at, and smile of joy grows across my face just as big as the first day I spoke with her.

We have come a long, long way since then. And not only that, I have grown such a deep, deep love for her and her animals that I never dreamed to be possible, and to this day I get just as giddy to meet with Leith and her animals for walks as I did on that sunny Saturday a year ago.

It does not even come close to stopping there. Not even. I get excited, to this day, to call Leith as her alarm clock when she is sleeping. I love when she calls me during her day in the middle of my night. I get excited to check up on her during the day to see how her day is going and exchange our day-to-day happenings, and make the most of the hours each of us happen to both be awake as the sun sets its sights on setting in the west over the Atlantic and eventuallydeep down all the way into the Pacific. I get eager to talk, even after we are just getting over from a fight. I get excited to laugh with her, to joke with her, to sympathize with her, and to listen to her. There is always that extra big smile right when I notice my phone ring, and I look and it says “Leith calling”. Leith makes my day. Leith is my life.

Sure, I know there always are going to be those rather difficult conversations, as lovers do, but she has always shown me how she is there for me and always ready to listen and share her never failing thoughtful, kind words. But we talk. And we look at each other. And we tell each other how much we want to hold each other, and be right there with the other, and to comfort and love. And even as the most sad, tearful, heated, confusing, dramatic, or even emotional conversations come to an end, and we know we must say “Good bye”, we cannot even think about pushing the “end” button on the cell phone or the “End Call” button on Skype, untilwe hear those ever so meaningful, heartfelt words “I love you.”

Here is to the beginning of another year. Bon anniversaire. Thank you for being you. I love you.

Grandpa Bill

This past weekend has been very, very tragic, to say the least. My grandfather (Glen’s father)underwent surgery for melanoma cancer. After the surgery, his wife Peg, and him were sitting in the hospital talking, and Peg left the room to get some ice cream. When she returned, Grandpa Bill was in a coma, as he had just had a massive, massive stroke.

Tragic events like this always remind me what really counts in life, and how precious and fragile ourselves and our peace are. In Grandpa Bill, we definitely have such an awesome and wonderful father, husband, and grandfather in every way.

Grandpa Bill has always been an avid golfer. Despite his recent history with melanoma cancer and the many surgeries he has endured, Grandpa Bill has always found a way to make his almost daily round through the golf course, driving the ball down the fairway, chipping the ball onto the green, and sinking that ball all the way through to the eighteenth hole.

Grandpa Bill has very much been a role model for me. A person that could fix anything, no matter how broken. A person with such hard work ethic, love, and kindness. And of course, even at the ripe age of seventy six years-young, a masterful golfer.




Grandpa Bill, I am pulling for you. I love you always.

Andrew