I'M SO EXCITED

I awoke this morning to enjoying my usual stretches in bed, when suddenly the biggest grin I own pushed all my facial wrinkles to their farthest  corner.  April first is finally here!!!! I let out a yelp which scared Mighty right off the bed in fear and I leaped out of bed like a child on Christmas morning.

My boys of summer take the field this very day at high noon. Baseball season has started.  Oh yeah!!!!

Those of you who don't enjoy sports are in the midst of a big ole yawn right now. Those who do enjoy sports, may not even like baseball. Those who love baseball feel my joy.  

However when I say I am a huge Miami Marlins fan you may wonder at my sanity.  We are projected to lose 100 games this year. So what. That means they will win 62 so I have 62 super days ahead and 100 that are just OK. Yes I watch every game. 

Had I grown up in Chicago, I'd have been a loyal  Cub fan or had I lived a little more south, I'd have been a great Astro fan. We true fans "take a licking and keep on ticking." 

The Marlins have a bad track record. Not just winning wise for we have actually won two World Series in our short career. However, we are small market and when our guys get good enough to be paid well, they are sold off.  

We are jokingly called the minor league team for Major League Baseball. We develop young players for other teams to enjoy.  The upside of that is now matter who we play, I get to see one or two of my former favorite players on the other team. It is great to see them doing well.

I do get temporarily upset when my favorites go up on the auction block but then there is always a fresh, new and eager crop of new young players to peak my interest.  The newbies may not have the polished skills of the kazillion dollar players but they do have heart and the game has yet to become purely business for them. They have fun and desire.

Right now our lone hold over from last year is 23 years old.  We do have a 28 year old pitcher from last year but he is projected to be traded mid-season. We did add a few grizzled veterans that were cast offs from other teams. They are in their mid thirties which is old for a ballplayer. Not a team to put your money on. 

Our expectations of winning are low but I am really looking forward to seeing some fun baseball this year as I watch my young men learn and grow. Patti is happy. 

The older I get, the fewer in number of my pure pleasures. I am pretty much down to having my family and friends doing well; seeing my gardening efforts pay  off; discovering a delicious meal that is also healthy; finding a surprisingly good free book; the game of baseball and that marvelously regular morning bowel movement. 

As the days dwindle down so do our pleasures and the more fiercely we seize  them. At least I do. 

Do you find with added years, something that once was a passing interest has now become a passion??