DIARY FROM THE BALLPARK #5

Ok, here's the final installment of my diary from the ballpark! (I can't believe I was putting Dairy - like milk - for the first four!!)

For obvious reasons a lot of people have been asking me the simple question "are you going to miss it"? Well there is no doubt that I will miss certain aspects of working in baseball. However, there is no doubt that I will be having fun spending time on summer nights in the future doing things that I want to do instead of having to be at the ballpark!

I will miss some of the extra perks that comes with working in baseball like mascot appearances, watching kids smile when grabbing a foul ball, playing catch during "down time" on the field, speaking engagements, free tickets for my friends and, of course, views from the roof just to name a few.

However, I won't miss watching the radar and wondering if I have to pull tarp to go along with crazy complaining fans, long (and I mean long) working hours, sleepless nights rolling hot dogs for DARE day games and, of course, pulling trash!! Oh, I certainly will not miss Scout Night! Those crazy kids never sleep!!!

It's funny, every now and then I have friends ask me if I am dating some one or if I have a "significant other" and my standard response was I am 'married to baseball.' It's a pretty cool deal, I mean she may leave at the end of September every year but she will always come back around in early April!! Well, I guess I better come up with a better come back when asked that question!

You know I actually look forward to being a baseball fan again. This year I have yet to watch a game "just for fun as a fan." It will give me great pleasure to sit in the stands and know that I can't be reached on the radio to fix a problem!

Get-up and stretch one last time!!