charliesmum | Not exactly a Norman Rockwell day

Up at 7 this morning to a cold and rainy day. Out at the baseball field in Knight Park by 8am; the rain had stopped for the moment, but the trees were dripping leftover rain upon our heads. Parents huddled in groups while the kids, oblivious to the weather, ran around happily. It was, after all, Opening Day, and they were getting their uniforms.

They were allowed to pick what number they wanted. Charlie initially said he wanted a 'random' number, and then requested number eleven.

Right before the opening ceremony the rain started again in ernest, but this was Baseball, and apparently the show must go on. Which was fine, really, because what Charlie was looking forward to most of all was the parade, when each team was called to the field, and then they stood in a semi-circle as the announcer, er, announced the people who made this all possible. Don't ask me who they are, by this point I was soaked and shivering.

They did, blessedly, keep it short, and after the ceremonial first pitch and a short but cute prayer led by an Episcopal Priest, the season was officially opened, despite the fact the games themselves were postponed.

But despite the rain and the cold and the mud and the wind, it was still a really nice moment. Maybe not the 'Field of Dreams' moment one would wish to have at times like these, but it was still, well, momentous. There was Charlie, in his baseball uniform, standing proudly with his team, happy to be there, and ready to play ball.