Drowning at Shea

Hollaback Girl and I ventured out to Shea Stadium today to catch our Mets taking on the Washington Nationals. I'd been dying to get to the ballpark to take in the experience that is baseball: The razzing of the umps, they thumping feet and clapping hands of audience encouragement, the jugging of the unwieldy plastic cup of beer and the hot dog, chewing on peanuts fresh from a bag and leaving them scattered about your feet like residue, the cheering for the team members as they take the field, the sun beating down on your face and shoulders, the climb to the nose bleed section seats at the top of the stadium, the singing of "Meet the Mets" in the third inning...it doesn't get any better than this. Aunt Bert is right--it IS a pastime that is purely American.

Alas, the day we earmarked to take in a game happened to be on a day when Mother Nature had PMS. It was unsettled this morning, but by the time we had disembarked from the 7 train at noon, the sky was becoming tempestuous. By the first inning, it was sprinkling; by the third inning, it was pouring. Many spectators departed for the upper reaches where the sheltering eaves of Shea provided refuge, but Hollaback and I stood fast. We remained in our seats managing beer and hot dog while huddling under one umbrella. Some insightful soul had the good sense to bring a patio table umbrella (below) which provided comfortable and ample shelter for a family of four.

By the fifth inning, it was a deluge of rain. My battered little umbrella was not going to salvage us for the next four innings. Thunder grumbled, flashes of lightening erupted and when we saw a staffer resanding the pitcher's mound, we had a feeling it was time to leave. Moments later the field crew was rolling out the tarmac to cover the now drenched field and we made our way to the subway. It was a good call--the game was later called in the fifth inning, with a 5-0 victory for the Mets.

While not a perfect baseball day, Hollaback was able to say she'd finally been to Shea. She got to see the glowing Mets apple rise from the top hat when Ramon Castro hit a two run homer. She got her Mets cap and souvenir beverage cup. And it was also Seat Cushion Day so now she can now actually say she can sit on the Mets. I'd consider that a good start.