I always look forward to the warm summer nights and that also means baseball season! This year there was a lockout and I wondered if there would even be a season! The owners locked out the players back in November of last year just after the World Series ended (which was won by the Braves and Jesse and I did get to a game in Atlanta which was loads of fun for both of us) and it didn't end until March!! The first part of the season wasn't played because of the shorter spring training and some games are being made up throughout the season and for the Mets it means 3 games at the beginning of October! I'm ok with that as long as they are playing and I can enjoy one of my favorite pastimes in the summer.
I have been a season ticket holder since 2015 and now I share my seats with my friend Ciel who I worked with at the library for many years until we both retired back at the beginning of 2021 when the library offered long time employees early retirement and a buyout to which I say yes please and thank you very much after 17 years of working there! I do miss the friends but have made it a point to stay in touch with a select few by meeting for dinner once a month at the local diner.
The Mets unveiled a statue of Tom Seaver earlier in the season and it stands proud at the main entrance and we get to see it every time we go to a game which is pretty cool, and it's about time they did something for him! Sadly Tom passed away in August of 2020 from dementia and Covid-19 so he would never see this beautiful tribute to his body of work with the New York Mets. His wife and daughters and other family would attend the ceremony which was very moving.
One of the best parts of attending the games for Ciel and I is seeing familiar faces over the years and when we are lucky enough to sit on the patio area in the Delta club thanks to one of the security guards we have become friends with (Sam!!) we see the same ushers and they have gotten to know us which we love! Marty is the usher in the Delta Club and what a sweet man he is and has become a good friend, he calls us 'his ladies' and this year he told us he would be having surgery on his neck and would be out for a couple of months. I finally saw him on July 3rd and he saw me and came right over for a hug, it was great to see him looking strong and healthy at the ripe old age of 80. I hope he works for the Mets for many more years to come!
The view from the Delta Club is so amazing and I am blessed anytime I can sit there! I love seeing homeruns and of course nothing beats a beautiful summer afternoon at the ballpark!
