A Day in the Park

I was out running errands on Wednesday and stopped by a deli in Maugensville, northwest of Hagerstown to get a sub and eat it in the town park, which happens to be right next to their Little League complex. And there, playing baseball was a father and son. Dad was throwing to the little guy in the bullpen and challenged him to hit one over the screen that stood behind the mound. He did it on occasion, too.

I judged that the boy was 4 years old, a fact later confirmed by his father and I marveled at his ability and coordination. What I marveled at even more was a kid who wanted to be outside playing ball rather than inside playing video games or watching TV. The Maugansville bank sign read 100 degrees, but it didn't phase the little ballplayer at all. At one point, he took his stance (just as Mo Weber prescribes, by the way) and his Dad asked, "Are you thirsty?" He shook his head no. "Are you hot?" was the next question. Again, he shook his head no, never coming out of his stance either time. He hit one over the fence and began to round imaginary bases, ending with a slide across the bullpen plate.

By the time this shirtless tyke slid into home, he was about pantless, too; the elastic waistband was still north of his knees, but not too far north. I'm sure his mom wondered that night how a boy could get his underwear dusty.

At another point, the boy stepped into the batter's box, but not before knocking imaginary mud from his tennis shoes. There's a kid who has really watched baseball! I was transported back to the world I grew up in and I stayed in that world for half an hour or more just watching this father and son.

I hope that 40 years from now, that little boy remembers that day in the park with his father. A day with no school, no responsibilities, no cares. A day on which he enjoyed his abilities for their own sake. He'll need a touchstone day like that when he's the dad with work, and responsibilites, and cares.

I hope all my readers have an entire collection of them and that you continue to add to it.