And Here's the Pitch...
How do you like my nurse's picture of Phillies' pitcher
Brett Myers after delivering a pitch to home plate?
As I have said before, the baseball season doesn't officially get underway until I make my first appearance at a
Phillies game. With temperatures in the low 80s and a clear blue sky here in Philadelphia today, I couldn't think of a better day for baseball. It turned out to be an even better day, as the Fightin' Phils belted four homeruns and crushed the visiting
Houston Astros, 10-2.
The first game I attend each year is always a bit emotional for me, as I never know if it will be the last season for me. Six years ago, when I began seeing my current cardiologist, I told him that I was hopeful to be able to attend a game at the Phillies' new ballpark, then under construction. Well, not only was I able to be there in 2004, the first season that they played at
Citizens Bank Park, I have been around for four more seasons, now that this one has begun. I'm sure glad that I got to see last season, when the Phillies
reached the playoffs for the first time since 1993.
Since it has been open, I have been pleased with the accessibility at Citizens Bank Park and have found the staff extremely helpful. Having been given tickets to today's game as a gift in a non-accessible seating area, I needed to trade them in for accessible seating (well, parking in my case). All I had to do was go to the guest services desk and with no problem at all, they moved me to some great accessible seats behind home plate but up a couple of levels.
I had a nice time today. It's great to be 1-0 in games I have attended so far this year. I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts, because I have become the kiss of death for my local teams in recent years!
With the way the Phillies played tonight, defeating the Florida Marlins, 5-0, my friends Jim (standing) and Pat (to my left) and Jim need to make the trip from New Hampshire more often. Or maybe it was our attractive female company, Sarah (standing) and Jen (seated, next to me). Whatever the reason, it was one of those perfect summer nights meant for baseball. 
