End of an Era
I feel like I should wear black at least all this week to publicly mourn the retirement of my hero, Boston Red Sox captain Jason Varitek. Tek retired with grace and dignity on his own terms March 1st, though everyone has high hopes there will still be some place for him within the BoSox organization. He would make one hell of a manager, I’ll tell you that much.
I’ve never been so attached to a professional athlete before, so I’ve never had to experience watching my favorite team without my hero at the helm. This year when I watch the Sox, some of the magic will be gone for me. Tek was a consummate professional both on and off the field, and is touted as one of the best prepared and hardest working catcher in the game. There’s a reason his teammates bestowed that letter C he wore over his heart for so many seasons.
My favorite memory of Tek was a couple years ago when he was rehabbing a foot fracture. My hubby took me down to Seattle to watch the Sox play the Mariners at Safeco field, and partway through the game Tek came out of the dugout and headed toward the outfield where the bullpen is. Hubby nudged me and we both walked around the stadium to stand by the bullpen fence to watch him warm up a pitcher. He was maybe twenty feet away from me, in full and glorious living color, all six foot two of his delicious frame crouched behind the plate. My heart was pounding like crazy, and I’ll admit I was completely eating him up with my eyes (it’s okay–my hubby totally understood, lol).
After a few minutes of catching Tek stood up to stretch his legs and tipped his mask back on his head. It was just me, hubby and some homeless-looking guy standing at the fence watching. Tek looked over at me, and I swear on my childrens’ lives, he smiled a little and winked at me. (Either that or he had something in his eye at the exact moment he turned his head to look at me. I’m going with the wink theory, thanks.)
I almost died. My face went all kinds of red and though hubby was elbowing me in the ribs saying, “Say something, say something!”, I just couldn’t. I think I smiled and maybe raised my hand in a wave, but I’m not sure. I just know that my face was pretty damn hot at that moment.
That’s as close as I ever got to meeting or speaking with my hero, but it was incredible and something I’ll never forget.
Last year in September a friend of mine flew out to Toronto to watch them play the Sox. Since he’s friends with a few of the Blue Jays, he and his son were welcomed onto the field. Who should they come across but the captain of the BoSox himself, Jason Varitek, just after batting practice. My friend knew what a rabid fan I am of Tek’s, so he went over and asked him to sign a baseball for me. Which he did. Okay, he totally spelled my name wrong, but I think it’s because my friend doesn’t know how to spell my name right. That ball is one of my most treasured possessions, and it marks one of the last games Tek had in the majors.
I’ll always love the BoSox, but there’s a hollow sensation in my gut now. Knowing he’ll never be behind the plate again is hard to take. I’ll always have the memory of that wink, though, and the ball signed just for me.
He’s Ba-ack!
As an early Christmas present to me, the Boston Red Sox are this close to resigning their hunky captain for another season. Yep, Jason Varitek is all healed up and staying put for at least one more year. I couldn’t be happier about it! Maybe hubby will take me down to Seattle to watch Tek when the BoSox come to town and I’ll actually get to see him behind the plate this time. Not that I’m complaining about last time. I won’t forget that wink anytime soon 😉
We’ve been super busy here getting the place ready for Christmas. Had our annual holiday bash last night, and even Santa came and made a special guest appearance for the throng of kids here. Though we’ve got our standard 5 trees and the humongous arbor decorated inside, hubby went crazy this year out in the yard. We’ve got all kinds of figures out on the front lawn and garden, and he almost bought one of those annoying computerized things that synchronizes music and lights. I’m sure our neighbors are very grateful he decided to pass on that. I know I am.
In terms of writing, I’m pretty sure I’m on the naughty list, and not just because I sold that erotic romance novella a couple weeks ago! Nope, I’ve been procrastinating like crazy with my WIP and I’m not sure why. Have to push through that and get my mojo back, because I’ve got a lot of projects to finish in the next year if I want to keep up any kind of momentum. I’m seeing a writing friend tonight for some girl talk over tea with a side of plotting, so I’m hoping that will jump start my muse again. And next weekend I’m hosting the Greater Vancouver RWA chapter for our Christmas shindig, so that’s always awesome. But…you should see my calendar for December. It’s nuts. Way more so than usual. Everyone in our house is designated with a different color highlighter, and the entire month is so packed full with color it almost gives me a headache. I try not to look at it too often because it just makes me tired thinking about all I have to do this month. Wish me luck!
Best Date EVER
I can safely say I’m the least spontaneous person I know. I’m not a spur of the moment kind of gal, never have been. So yesterday when my hubby waltzes in the door at lunchtime, I thought something was wrong.
Me: “Did your computers crash or something?”
Him: “No.”
Me: “You got fired.”
Him: Glares. “No. We’re going out.”
Me: “What? No, I can’t. I’ve already arranged a play date for the kids.” Plus I’ve already got stuff laid out to do a painting project for my powder room. The entire afternoon is spoken for. Don’t mess with my schedule.
Him: “Play date’s cancelled.”
I look over at my mom, who’s standing behind him. She and her twin sister moved in with us in mid August and are staying until the renos on their new house are complete. Anyway, mom’s shaking her head at me to get my attention and then puts on an excited look, starts prancing behind him in joy to prompt me. As in , hello? Cue excitement anytime now.
Oh, right. Don’t kill the guy’s effort by not being thrilled. I’m supposed to be excited. My bad.
So I mentally switch gears, put on a smile and off we go. He won’t tell me where we’re going, but soon enough I figure out we’re heading toward the border. Well fine, if he won’t tell me, the border guard will find out soon enough when we declare where we’re off to in the good old U.S.A. But hubby’s foiled that plan too. He’s tucked a note to the border guard inside my passport so the surprise won’t be spoiled.
I’m starting to get a real kick out of this. He’s obviously put in a lot of effort. My mind starts humming. He’s taking me to find a Victoria’s Secret store where I can indulge in my lingerie fetish.
No, he says with a little smile.
I’m getting puzzled. Why else would he be taking me down south in the middle of the day? My eyes light up. A ball game?
“You’re taking me to the Mariners game.” I gasp. “Oh my God, are the BoSox in town?”
Another grin. “Maybe.” He’s still Mr. Mysterious.
Nah, I think. The M’s usually play at 1 or 7, not in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday.
About twenty minutes down the road, Hubby can’t stand it anymore. “Yeah, we’re going to see the M’s play the BoSox.”
I gasp. Hooray! I’m so stoked. I spend the next hour and a half writing in my little plotting notebook (I never leave home without it), and we finally arrive in Seattle and make our way to Safeco Field.
Next great surprise–our seats are 19 rows behind home plate. Dead center. Awesome! Now I’ll have a great view of the whole field, not to mention the catchers. (Please let Varitek be catching…)
We sit down and hubby leaves me with my bag of roasted peanuts to go in search of some better food. He comes back with a hot dog, garlic fries and a hot chocolate for me (what a guy), and the starting lineups are announced. I hold my breath when the BoSox lineup comes over the PA system. Please let Varitek be playing. Pleasepleaseplease…
Nope. Victor Martinez is catching. Bummer! Ah well. Maybe Varitek still isn’t healed up enough to play, and it’s late in the season anyway. They’re not going to make the playoffs this year, so maybe they’re just giving him some extra time to heal his foot.
It’s all good though. I’m on an unexpected date in the middle of the day with my man, and there are no little boys fighting beside me or whining for more junk food or that they’re bored. I’ve got nothing to do but sit back and enjoy the game. That in itself would have been more than enough to made the day incredible. But there’s more.
Partway through the third inning, hubby nudges me. I look over to the third base dugout, and my heart trips. There he is, in the flesh. My heartthrob. The hunky Red Sox captain is leaning over the dugout railing with his back to me. Be still my beating heart! I can barely take my eyes off him.
Two innings later, he shoulders a ginormous duffel bag and heads onto the field. I perk up. He’s going to the bullpen!
I grab hubby’s hand. “Come on,” I said, tugging him impatiently out of his seat.
“You really want to watch him warm up the pitchers that bad?”
“Uh yeah, he’s on my list.” All you Friends fans out there know what I mean by that. Varitek shares my five-man list with The Rock, Gerard Butler, Ben Affleck (who’s not only hot, but a die hard BoSox fan), and one spot I haven’t filled yet. So yeah, I’m going to the bullpen.
Hubby rolls his eyes and comes along for the walk around the stadium to the bullpen, where the relieving pitchers warm up.
I spot him the instant we round the corner. There he is, not forty feet from me, number 33 with all his gear on. Oh my God he’s sexy. I take up position at the far end, right next to the stencil of home plate, and camp out there. And I’m watching nothing but him. I couldn’t care less who was standing next to him. Not even Papelbon, their famous closer. My eyes are for Varitek only while he does his stretches.
About the 7th inning he’s finally all limbered up and grabs his mask. He strides toward me. I swear my mouth went dry. He plays catch for a bit to loosen up his arm, then drops into his squat. Like, fifteen feet from where I stood. My insides go all jittery. He can tell I’m there, but he goes about his business and I’m way too shy to wave or call out to him. We’re sorta hard to miss though, because we’re two of about five people standing on his end of the pen. And trust me, I’m not at all being subtle as I stare at him.
I feast on the visual treat before me. I watch his positioning, the way he sets up behind the plate, the tape around the fingers of his throwing hand (helps the pitcher see the signals he’s giving), the way he grips the ball. His throwing mechanics. After a couple minutes they take a break and he stands up. Looks over. Sees me. My heart pounds.
“He just checked you out,” hubby says in outrage, and steps closer to me to put an arm around my waist.
While I roll my eyes, Varitek goes back into his squat and catches a bit longer. “He did not. He looked at me because I’m standing here gawking at him. It’s a natural reaction.”
“No way. He was totally checking you out.” Hubby’s arm tightens. Jeez, maybe he’s taking this whole list thing too seriously. It’s only a hypothetical list, for fun, and I’m way too shy to do anything about it even I Varitek and I were both single. I think hubby’s pretty safe. I push him aside so I can see better.
We watch Varitek catch for a while longer. Next time he stops, he stands up. Looks over. Tips his mask back.
Holy hell, he’s looking right at me. I go rigid and stare back with a stiff smile on my face.
Varitek grins at me. And then…he winks. I swear on my childrens’ lives, the man winked at me before tugging his mask down again.
My heart nearly stops beating altogether. While my face goes red as a tomato, hubby whirls to face me with a look of astonishment on his face. “Did he just wink at you?”
My face is about to combust it’s so hot. “Um, yeah, I think he did.” Oh no, I don’t just think it. I know it. My heart is still all aflutter thinking about it as I type this.
Talk about the perfect way to top off an awesome date with my hubby. And let’s be honest, how many husbands would willingly stand there and let their wives ogle a man on her list? The man won serious brownie points with me yesterday.
Come October the BoSox won’t be in the post season, but I’ll still be a faithful member of the Red Sox Nation. And you can bet I’ll be cheering for whoever’s playing against the damn Yankees.
Road Trip
We’re hitting the road Tuesday and getting the heck out of Dodge. Central Oregon is our final destination, where we’ll stay three nights at The Lodge At Suttle Lake. We’re all looking forward to getting away from everything for awhile, especially since we’ve been so busy with family for the past few weeks and my mother-in-law’s funeral.
Then on Friday we’re heading to Seattle, where on Saturday night we’ll be watching the BoSox take on the Mariners at Safeco Field. I think we’re close to home plate, and I’m praying the BoSox Captian, Jason Varitek, will be catching that night. (Mmmm, Varitek…) He’s a well respected catcher renowned for studying game footage and opposing batter’s weaknesses, plus he takes charge on the field and in the clubhouse, and he works well with the pitching staff. I can’t wait to sit back with a hot dog and dark chocolate dipped strawberries on a stick to watch my heartthrob do his thing.
Our eldest is six, and this isn’t his first time to Safeco. He’ll do okay, provided there are lots of food vendors around to keep him happy. It’ll be our little guy’s first ball game though. He’s only 4, and while I doubt he’ll last the whole nine innings, I hope he’ll mostly enjoy the experience. We’re going with one of my best pals (a former teammate) and her man who happens to live in Seattle. My pal is great with the kids, but my hubby is well aware of my fan girl crush and already knows he’s in charge of the boys if they start to whine or act up during the game so I’m not distracted from seeing my hero. Even if I only see him in the dugout. Hubby loves the BoSox too, but he doesn’t love Varitek as much as I do 🙂
Maybe it’s because I was a pitcher, but to me catchers are just plain sexy, especially him. For crying out loud, just look at him up there in the first photo! Yum. Of course when it comes to yummy catchers there’s also Minnesota’s delectable Joe Mauer (shown here on the left), but I’m a loyal kind of gal. (If only he played for the BoSox…)
Varitek’s only 3 years older than me and we’ve both had ball-related surgery on our left knees, so that makes me feel even closer to him, lol. And as a massage therapist, I’d be happy to work all his knots out after the game. Purely for therapeutic reasons, of course 😉
But don’t worry, I promise to behave myself should I run into him. I’m actually pretty shy, so even if I somehow met the man I wouldn’t be able to do anything more than blush and mumble a hello. (When really I’d be thinking, I love you Jason! Can we play catch?)