Sunday, May 16, 2010

Go Bulls!

Before I met David, he was quite the baseball player and pitched his little heart out from a young boy until mid twenties; even playing for the Cubs in the minor leagues. I met him a few years after this big part of his life. Some of his favorite memories are from playing in college at USF in Tampa. Well, they're tearing down the stadium that has been there since 1967 and invited all the alumni up for a special tribute and time to say good-bye to their field that is being replaced by a state of the art facility. So we hiked up to Tampa to say our good-byes and it was well worth the trip.



They called out each player by name with a little bio and each ran out onto the field to their position they played in college. David took the mound like he had years before hundreds of times, except this time, he had his #1 cheerleader with him.



and people we had a breakthrough.... lils was asking to say hi to the mascot and actually got a picture snuggled up to him and no tears were shed; not even a nervous "bye-bye" repeated over and over as she got closer...



She was all smiles watching the game and you'd think she understood all the signs given by the coaches as she peered through the fence taking it all in...



I wish there could be speech bubbles over her head all day to know what is going on in her little mind ....



I think this speech bubble would read "Put Me In Coach" as she tries to climb over the fence...



Since this was the last game ever to be played on this field, all the players were given a corked glass jar to collect the clay and grass at the end of the game in memory of this special field of memories. David let Lily do the honors. I'm surprised she didn't lay down and go to sleep when she sat down to collect the dirt because this picture was taken at 11:00...as in PM!


It was a special event for everyone and neat to reconnect with all of David's friends from those years before I knew him to hear stories, hangout with his lifelong friends, and see him smiling from ear to ear, reliving his glory days with his buds, while carrying Lily around on his hip showing her off like his little trophy he is so proud of; except this trophy wasn't for a no hitter or best ERA. It was definitely a full circle weekend all around.

Life is good! :)

11 comments:

Grandpa said...

These two days at USF were memory makers for sure . . . Lily seeing her DaDa smiling filled her mind with a warm loving feeling . . . and David seeing the happiness in Lily’s eyes . . . Priceless!

Tisha said...

what a great memory!

lily's little legs are adorable! she should never wear long pants. ;-)

Cibele said...

juts so fantastic. Lily , oh Lily, you are just too cute for words

Jennifer said...

I think it was meant to be that Lily took so long to be here...

that david longed for a little sidekick to be his baseball buddy...

and now she is here, helping him scoop up some dirt on his beloved college pitchers mound.

Could not write a better ending to close such an important chapter in D's life...

as a new one begins.

love you 4 so much I could burst!!!

xoxo
jc

Tracy Balderach said...

Oh wow- tears! What a great weekend to blend past, present and future.....you did a great job documenting the weekend! It's been so fun keeping up with you and your beautiful family!!

Mary said...

What a HUGE memory was made all around. These picture just capture it all. So, so happy that you guys went up there for it. So worth it!! I'll bet little Lily's heart was beating with such pride for her wonderful daddy. And what a treasure to show off to his buds.
What an experience that must have been for you all.
I agree with Jen. She was meant to come at just the right time.
Love you all more than I can tell.
Mom

dig this chick said...

I wish there could be speech bubbles over her head all day to know what is going on in her little mind ....

Wouldn't that be great? Although not all the time, but if we couldn't just push a button and have a little look-see...

Your man totally looks like a baseball player! I can see it. Love that you made that journey. What a special ceremony.

And, I am so with Lily with the mascot freak out...they are super creepy...but, I was once, ahem, handles inappropriately by a giant osprey in front of hundreds of people so I have a sorted past. Anyway, she's amazingly adorable.

Lastly, belly photos please.

Anna Ruth said...

What a special thing for your family to share. I see Lily now, pitching a no hitter. She is brave to have the bull that close to her.

Heidi said...

good for lily...i would have been scared out of my mind with that thing next to my head...haha.

i never thought about the speech bubble think, but holy yes. that would be great.

lily jumping up at the fence...adorable!

i am so happy you guys went to tampa. how amazing.
xoxo

Anonymous said...

It’s not easy to digest the fact that it has been 20 years since I first stepped on that field as a freshman! Yes, it was great reconnecting with past and present friends / players. Those types of relationships aren’t easily forged, but once established they last a lifetime. The icing on the cake was having both you and the LP there to share that moment with me. I know it wasn’t easy getting there, so thanks for making the trip. It meant the world to me.

D

Leah said...

Oh... my.... lord... I love how her pigtails are ever-so-lopsided! SO CUTE!