I came in early to work October 27 and ended up asking to leave early and walked a brisk half hour to AT&T Park by game time. Of course I didn't have a ticket. It was a beautiful mild San Francisco evening with flags hanging limp and 61*, thankfully. I got myself a World Series Giants National League Champions T off a sidewalk vendor and went back for three more. The boaters, kayakers and swimmers playing ball in the bay were thick and in it for the duration. Balls were being thrown up to walkers and rubber baseballs thrown into the water to tease the boaters. The line to see the game free through the bars was also thick, and long. Smells included smoke and pot, coarse language was to be heard, there was an air of excitement and also consideration for others. Someone took a movie of me eating my pear in my long pig tails with orange bands and Giants cap. A young woman told me she loved my hair and touched it. I started looking for an opening to see the field and realized I was able to see a "TV size" opening through chicken wire at a distance of home plate at Triples Alley. I stayed there watching batters, catcher and runners in through the fifth inning. A toothless guy on bike stood behind me and another guy came and asked if he could snuggle to see my view. I slipped my new T over my old Giants jersey I had tried to give Paul, when it got chilly, and I wanted to be able to say I wore it to the World Series. Back overlooking the kayakers I would start talking to people beside me and enjoying the general air of being thrilled to be at the first game of the World Series. Dogs were donned in Giants Ts and at one point five gorillas sauntered by in orange Department of Corrections jumpsuits. Children were perched on their parent's head. In finding restrooms locked I lucked out seeing someone leave the clinic who allowed me in. Once I had clean hands I made up some bagels and cream cheese and ate the rest of my pear on a metal bench with a view of a TV set at a distance and all the kayakers. Drummers were making great sounds beside me, vendors hawking their programs and food. In walking clockwise around the park I was thrilled with the two dozen tall palms dressed in tiny orange lights and all the wonderful statues of past Giants greats. I walked through the avenue of the palms and watched from a TV with others, all the while trying to dodge smoke. I jumped up and down and screamed for runners. At around 3-1/2 hours the Giants topped the Rangers 11 to 7, my wedding and sealing dates. So just after 8:30 p.m. I was ready to join the masses and walk along the bay to the Ferry Building, adorned in glowing orange light, and me in my orange Giants windbreaker. I got a fright from the hiding bush guy. A man was selling Ts and a young woman snatched one off to the side. I stood in front of her and blocked her with my hand saying, "Hey!" She gave it over and I told the vendor someone had tried to rip him off. The lights reflecting on the calm water was breathtaking and though getting tired I enjoyed my walk very much, all the while feeling glad for the winning Giants. I was also glad when the first BART car was mine. Being squished beside the door with all the fans was not so bad since we were winners, not losers. I couldn't get away without a bathe before bed as we were cheek to jowl for a while, laughing, hooting, and glad for our experience at AT&T watching the Giants win the first game of the World Series.
Game 2, AT&T, watched the last two hours at home. Score: 9-0 Giants
Game 3, Texas, watched innings 5 through 8 at Taqueria Los Comales, Oakland, and at home. Score: 4-2 Rangers
Game 4, Texas, Halloween night. Score: 4-0 Giants
Game 5, Texas, 3-1 Giants. The San Francisco Giants snatch the World Series! Way to go Giants! Great teamwork and commaraderie all around. I started out at Civic Center but hurried home to watch it in comfort instead of sitting on cold cement for hours. I am thrilled for the Giants. The parade is 11 a.m. November 3 in a very excited city.
Paul reminds me he and I went to the 2002 World Series at the Park October 23, ate some food, walked around the stadium a few times, watched it on TVs there, walked back along the Embarcadero and got some hot chocolate. How soon the mind forgets! Thanks to journaling I was able to go back and relive our experience together. Thank you my son for the good times and memories.
