A Missed Game

Yesterday I learned a lesson about life and about myself.  As I wrote here, it was Opening Day for the St. Louis Cardinals and we were not there.  For those of you who know us you know that the Cardinals have been a central part of our relationship.  Our second date and Spring, Summer, and Fall after that have been spent at the Old and New Busch Stadiums. 

1st Game together in June 2004

Opening Day 2005

Opening Day 2006

Rehearsal Dinner . . . Last game of the NLCS against the Mets.

Wedding Day October 21, 2006, was the first game of the World Series.  Here was our cake topper.

Night the Cardinals won the World Series in 2006

Opening Day 2007 (pregnant with Gracie)

Opening Day 2008

Opening Day2009
I had contractions while pregnant with Caleb and had to go to the doctor.  Plus it was snowing like crazy and it was about 32 degrees.  I did meet friends out at a hangout after the doctor's appointment, though, but have no pictures of it.

Opening Day 2010

Yesterday, though, we just couldn't seem to make it work.  We just went to Vegas last weekend and so our kids were with babysitters.  Ok, not really babysitters, family but still . . . they were with people other than Mommy and Daddy.  So that was Strike 1 against us.

The game didn't start until 3:15 and Kanin gets out of school at 3:20.  We would have had to have someone else pick him up from school and then keep him until we got home.  Strike 2

Scott had to dj last night and just the hassle of getting downtown early, after him working in the morning, waiting for a game to start at 3:15 and then leaving the game early to rush home, pick up kids, get dj stuff packed and go work for another 5 hours just seemed like too much.  Strike 3

Not only all of these strikes but Kanin also started soccer last night and he would have had to miss the first night.

So we were OUT of the game . . . kind of cheesy, I know, but it just came to me while I was writing this.

Anyway, all day long I tried to put a good spin on it and convince myself that it was no big deal that I wasn't Downtown.  That it was no big deal to not be tailgaiting with all of our friends before the game and not be hanging out with my Left Field Cardinal bleacher buddies during the game but, in reality, I missed it.  I missed seeing Stan Musial and the Clydesdales.  I missed the excitement of downtown.  I just missed it.

However, it just wasn't the right thing to do.  Our children and the routine of life had to come first.  Being a parent isn't always about what is fun or what we've looked forward to for a whole year.  Being a parent sometimes means missing the things that we want to do so that our kids can do the things that they want to do.

I learned that although I really missed Opening Day, I actually can survive not being down there.  It really is OK. 

So now what to look forward to . . . tomorrow when I get to be down at the Ballpark with my family, watch the game, see Fredbird, and eat some Dippin' Dots.  It will be our Opening Day and I'm OK with that.