Harmon usually sees Comerica Park only in the daylight and
typically for Kids Days on Sundays. But, now that he’s getting a little older,
I told him I would take him to a night game and we did just that last Friday.He was very excited and was dressed in his Tigers gear and ready to go early Friday evening. We parked in our favorite spot and got into the stadium with no trouble at all. We got his usual staples – hot dog, soft pretzel and bottle of water – and headed for our seats. Once again, Kevin did an amazing job with the tickets. This time, Harmon got spoiled with seats in the first row overlooking the bullpen.
After the first inning, Jose Valverde and Joaquin Benoit made their way to the bullpen and I told Harmon to wave and yell but he went all shy. The family next to us said their son waved and yelled during warm-ups and his efforts were rewarded with a ball. This was ALL Harmon needed to hear! For the next eight innings, Harmon was on his feet relentlessly waving and yelling at anyone who was in or around the bullpen – including Quintin Berry who was playing left field that night. Sadly, and he was really bummed at the time, he did not get a ball.
When Harmon wasn’t harassing the bullpen, he was downing his food. He ate part of his pretzel, then his hot dog, then watched a while and then wanted the rest of his (now cold) soft pretzel. I told him to at least sit down while he was EATING so as he turned to sit he bumped his arm and – I’m not even kidding – he dropped the rest of his soft pretzel into the bullpen. At first, I was mortified but, after a few innings, I was laughing uncontrollably about it. It WAS hilarious and now we have a great story to tell about his first night game!
And speaking of the actual game, he was a champ! We stayed in our seats the ENTIRE time and he watched – alternating between the new huge scoreboard and the actual field – the Tigers beat the Indians, 10-2, with the highlight being a Prince Fielder home run.
Although I wasn’t sure he would make it, he was excited about and stayed awake for the Friday night fireworks. We had a great seat for them and they were beautiful!
As we left out section, I snapped a quick picture of him with the field in the background and he looked so happy. An usher stopped me when I was taking this picture and asked if I would like one of the BOTH of us which, of course, I did! He took one and although it wasn’t the best picture ever, he said something to me when he handed my phone back to me that was even better than a picture.
He told me his father took him to his very first game – game two of the 1945 World Series – when he was 6 years old. He said it was one of his greatest memories and he remembers it like it was yesterday. He then said “that’s what you just gave your son!” I wanted to cry at that point – so very sweet!
We headed to the car for a very traffic-y drive back to Ann Arbor and, all the way home, as Harmon slept, I kept thinking that THESE were the nights I was waiting for when he was born, when I first learned I had a son.
