I know what you’re probably saying (at least if you are a fan of Major League Baseball, that is): “The season began a while ago. Where have you been?”
Yes, my cubbies have been at it for a couple months now. That’s not the baseball I’m talking about.
I’m talking about a baseball with fewer homerun hits, much shorter players, and perhaps a little more chaos. I’m talking about my nephew (on the pitcher’s mound in the photo below). Yep, I’m not just a writer – I’m an auntie, as well.
I’ve been a Chicago Cubs fan all my life – meaning I was raised by Cubs fans. I can’t imagine cheering for any other MLB team – and, yes, I cried when Bryant threw that final out to Rizzo in the seventh game of the World Series in 2016. I’m not ashamed to say it. (Our dog was even named after cubbie Ryne Sandberg, my dad’s favorite player.)
I never considered that baseball might enter my life in another way – and certainly not that I would be rooting for the enemy (my nephew goes to the school that was my school’s arch rival ¯\_(ツ)_/¯) – but here we are (he’s also being raised by Brewer fans, but we can forgive him of his childhood innocence and love of his parents). It’s become another thing for us to bond over (we also both love LEGOs and matchbox cars), a way for auntie to support and root for her not-so-little-anymore bean. We even take in games (our state has both college-league and minor league teams, so thankfully it doesn’t break the bank to for the entire family to do so):
I’ve lost track of the times I’ve reminded him that the only thing he has to do to make me proud is go out onto that field and try. And try he has.
HIs favorite position to play is catcher (followed by pitcher), and it’s hard not to reminisce about that first game when he would jump up from that crouched position and could barely throw it back to the pitcher’s mound – and now he can launch it to second base like it’s nothing. His confidence and skill have grown over the years, and he’s even passing his knowledge on to his little brother (who last year started in his own little league). [I’m not sobbing giant proud auntie tears – you are.]
It’s baseball season, y’all. And I can’t wait to see how much both my nephews grow this season.
Ami Maxine 