I got some 'wild friends'

My whirlwind year continues as I re-trace some of my steps, yet they are minus my best friend, Mom.

One year ago, Mom and I attended an Indians' game and after the game had tickets for the 'Indians at the Zoo' event. We were both kind of tired but loved our Indians as well as the zoo.

So we headed over to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo after the Tribe game for a night of not sure what to expect! I told Mom I could push her around in her wheelchair and she'd be fine. She was worried that I would get very tired pushing her around but did not realize it was my honor and pleasure!

We had a blast! Oh my gosh. Last year's event consisted of a nice dinner in the food pavilion of ballpark fare....then the entire team was set up a various stations around the zoo.

Last year we got some pretty good folks including Choo, Huff, Garko, etc., and I tried taking pictures of these guys as well.

Mom and I told each other --'we don't know if the Indians will do this next year so let's take advantage of it.' Little did we know at the time that Mom would NOT be here this year. A perfect example NOT to pass anything up that is very important to me. I have tried ever since that day and moreso after Mom passed away to live each day as if it were my last.

So when this year's event came along --I could not pass it up knowing full well it would be quite bittersweet.

My family was fortunate to enjoy the Strasburg game from a suite.....that was awesome. The entire family gathered together enjoying each other, a beautiful day, and our Cleveland Indians. We must have done something right!

After the game, flew to the zoo flying solo. Did not matter --I had SOOOOOO much fun! Oh my. Not only did I get so many great autographs and pictures but it was just a lovely night. I am a HUGE fan of the zoo and go every year.

What would have made it perfect --having Mom there or having the man of my dreams there (hmmm, which one would that be these days? There really are soooo many!) Then I look back and say, I had almost 30 of the men of my dreams at various stations around the grounds! Not complaining!

I can not even start with the highlights. Frank Hermann is such a sweetheart and so kind and pleasant with the most beautiful eyes. Carlos Santana signing autographs as he speaks on his cell phone in Spanish. Justin Masterson was asking the little kids for their autographs and Mitch Talbott was telling the little tykes how their autographs were so much more valuable than his!

When I got to the table to Mike Redmond, veteran catcher, and Shelley Duncan, OF-1B, I got flustered! I never even got a picture of them (and they are both so cute!)....but Mom must have been channelling inside of me because I did muster up enough gumption to tell Shelley that when I was 16, his father Dave sent me a sweet 16 birthday card! There were people coming in behind me so I did not even give him the overview of how that whole thing transpired but will write him a letter with the background! I'm telling you, they both flustered me! None of the other guys did that??? However, his reaction was great. He said, 'That's very cool!" And I totally agreed!

Russell the muscle Branyan had his cute little boy with him ...and all the Moms were asking if he was signing autographs....

And the cutest little boy replayed the night when Luis Val Buena hit a home run to win the game for the Tribe. Luis was extremely impressed with this little boy who could not have been more than 6 years old!

I was thrilled to talk to and get a picture of little Jason Donald --mark my words, he WILL be a great shortstop--2nd basemen for the Cleveland Indians!

I could not get the smile off of my face --but that is a daily occurrence in my life these days.

Immediately following the event, I could not wait to call my friend Matt and give him the play by play, especially about Branyan. Matt's always kidding me about #33's strikeout ratio!

It will be hard to top the 1st 2 days of my vacation...but I'm sensing I'll give it a good fight.....especially since my best friend is in town, Indians are in town, NBA playoffs continue and the weather is supposed to be just splendid!

Pinch me!

Where did the week go?

I sure hope next week (my week of vacation) goes in S-L-O-W M-O-T-I-O-N!! This week traveled very swiftly, especially since I was off on Monday and kind of lost a day!

It seems like every day all of a sudden I had something shakin'? Tuesday I got together with a very good friend --actually made my week! Car maintenance Wednesday.....wedding shower Thursday......and Friday wrapping up the work week prepping for what hopefully will be a perfect week on vacation!

Lots of sports excitement as well....so many Cleveland Indians come back from behind wins.....the whole Tom Izzo watch.....Thursday morning I was pleasantly awakened by a dear dear friend of mine with a text message. All it said: "SANTANA!!" Because we are so on the same page, I knew exactly what he meant and the texting bonanza began about our up and coming new catcher Carlos Santana!

Getting extremely excited to be on vacation next week. This will be the first real vacation I've had in eons. Ecstatic to see my best friend who is coming in from out of town....have not seen him since before Mom passed away...

I have not made any real plans for this vacation like I usually do...the only thing really is going to all the Cleveland Indians' games....otherwise, flying by the seat of my pants. Lots of cocktails WILL be factored in to the festivities!

Sunday my entire family will be in a suite watching the phenom kid Strasburg pitch against 'my' Indians. Awesome how that worked out! Could not have planned it better!

Then Sunday night have a special event with the Indians at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Very lucky, very blessed.

Thank you Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!

On the go from 8am to 9pm

You have got to be kidding me!

On the go from 8am until roughly 9pm.

I thought this was the weekend. A time to rest, to rejuvenate, to escape from work.

Well, I never have a weekend. I may not physically be at my paying job, but I have a much bigger 'job' 24/7 which does not pay in money but gives great satisfaction and joy (as well as pain and stress).

Sunday's are yet another early early day for me being that I sing at Mass.

So I hoist my plump body from my makeshift bed/love seat and sing all morning long.

Then Mom and I made our way to the Indians' game. A 'fun' event in spirit but traveling with an older person makes it a challenging adventure with more stress than relaxation. But it's worth it seeing Mom's eyes light up as we enter Progressive Field and listen to her cheer on the guys rattling off stats that I never even knew she knew!

Sunday's they have a great brunch in the Terrace Club so we made our way upstairs.

Delicious!

Then we made our way down to our seats and our usher, who just loves Mom, saved her a seat at the top of our section so she did not have to sit in the sun. That is what I am talking about. With the stress comes such wonderful graces from God and amazing acts from our fellow humans.

The game sucked. I know that's not very literary but simply stated, the truth.

After the game, both of us were bushed. However, we had tickets for an event at the Cleveland Metropark Zoo with the Cleveland Indians. I told Mom, we may not get this chance again. So on we went to the Zoo.

Mom had not been there is eons. I was excited to share this with her. Not just seeing some of our favorite Tribesmen, but the whole zoo experience!

We wound up staying the entire event! WOW! Basically, members of the Indians were on hand to sign autographs and greet their fans. There were a few players at each exhibit. No way in heck to get every one's autograph but Mom and I were banking on just 2. We lucked out and got a few more than that, but had an amazing time.

We buzzed around the zoo seeing all of God's creatures. Each animal seemed to be more beautiful than the last. It turned out to be an extraordinary day. Pouring in the morning and sunny and 86 in the afternoon. A PERFECT day for a visit to the Zoo.

As we greeted fellow Indians' fans who we, on occasion, see at the games, we got glimpses of our boys in street clothes and made our way to most of the animal exhibits.

We were able to actually speak with Ryan Garko, Jeremy Sowers, Shin Soo Choo, David Huff, and a few more...they really are a nice group of guys.

And frankly, the Cleveland Indians are the best looking baseball team in the Major Leagues. Hands down. WOW! But, I've always known that!

As the sun began setting, and the little carts began leaving with our favorite ballplayers, we were not tired anymore. We were past the point of exhaustion. We casually made our way to the zoo exit realizing we had a God-given day filled with magic and memories.