Freedom isn't Free
... but Washington Nationals' games are. Well, only if you are fortunate enough to be born into my family. Let me clarify. My cousin Kellie hails from Cal State Fullerton. Her boyfriend plays baseball there. His old teammate is Chad Cordero, who is currently leading Major League Baseball in saves. Kellie is the greatest cousin in the world because she hooked it up with Chad Cordero (I guess that can't be the only reason, but it is the front runner). And Chad Cordero is the man because he got us two tickets. Furthermore, I cannot tell you how cool I felt going to the will call window and being surrounded by Nationals fans and saying in a more than audible tone, 'I'm a guest of Chad Cordero'. Needless to say, some heads turned. And to make things even cooler, he came into the game in the top of the ninth, struck out both batters he faced, and converted the save. It was glorious.
The Nationals are Washington D.C.'s new team. They are not exactly a new team. They are actually the old Montreal Expos. Both Geoff and I are just tickled that we didn't have to go to Montreal and instead we got to go to our nation's capitol. What a treat. I wasn't exactly looking forward to seeing the game, per say, because they play in RFK Stadium, which is a multi-purpose stadium and not terribly impressive. It was, to my surprise, not that bad at all. It is hardly a gem, but it was still cool, as well as they had fireworks. Which is nice. Apart from seeing Cordero come into the game I must say the highlight was the two women sitting in front of us. They were both probably in their 70s and they were both keeping score and they were both drinking beer. Geoff and I kind of wanted to take them out on a double date that night. But Gladis, the one on the left, had a rock on her left hand - she is probably spoken for, bummer.
That night we walked around the momuments. I've seen them several times before yet I still am in awe when I walk around DC. Especially at night. It is said that baseball is America's sport, and I love baseball and America more than anybody, but I am never more proud to be an American than when I'm in Washington D.C. I'm so glad this city has a baseball team again.
We spent the night outside of the city because we had an off day on Thursday and we wanted to spend more time there. So we did. Saw the Smithsonians, walked the streets, went to the White House, went into the Supreme Court building, toured the Capitol. I don't even want to cheapen the experience by telling some witty tale like when we were getting our tickets for the Capitol tour, which are free, of course, the Korean couple in front of us just kept offering the clerk $20. I guess in their minds all tickets cost $10, regardless of if prices are posted or not, so if someone, anyone gives them 2 tickets they have to pay $20. But that is part of the magic of this place, the accessiblity of it all. Anybody can walk up and be part of it all. I love it.
That night we went back to Geoff's aunts place. This was our third night there in four days. What a treat. Aunt Sue made us the tastiest of dinners which included a cold beer. After a long day of walking around our nation's capitol nothing tastes as good as a cold beer. It was as if I was drinking the nector of the gods - and it was only a Coors. But it was great to sit there and talk with her for a couple of hours. We cannot express how thankful we are to her and other hosts for the first half of this trip. We have a chance to do something special here but we can't do it on our own and our hosts are making the magic happen. They are keeping us rocking.
I am currently in Boston, we are seeing the game tomorrow afternoon. As soon as I get the chance I'll catch you all up on the Yankees game, my Uncle Brian's arrival, staying with Tyler Part II, my dad's arrival, and of course the BoSox game. Til then.