July 19

Way back when, we used to go to A's games fairly regularly. There was nothing quite like kicking back on the third deck of the Coliseum on two-dollar ticket Wednesdays, munching on one-dollar hot dogs while watching the likes of Barry Zito, Eric Chavez, and Eric Tejada as they put on a show under the lights. Those were some good days. But that was a long time ago now.

In fact, we hadn't seen the A's play live since they left Oakland, mostly because it's just not convenient to go anymore. (And also because we don't like John Fisher. Boooo. Sell the team.) But today, we finally took the 90-minute drive to Sacramento and settled into our seats at Sutter Health Park to take in a game.

Although they did what they've done more often than not of late and lost to the Nationals, it was a fun new experience. Since it's a Triple A ballpark, it's very small, so it has a homier feeling than the much larger, much more urban Coliseum we're used to visiting. Though it was hot, hot, hot out (in the 90s) and the sun was bright and mostly unrelenting, we still had a good time watching and cheering and hanging out together (even if Abby did irritate Isaac and Brady by alternating her two hats --since she had one from the Nats game we attended last year in DC, she brought it along with her A's cap-- from inning to inning). And Abby and Isaac even came away with squishy A's balls that they caught when the broadcasters in the booth above us tossed them down to spectators. Talk about fortunate!

So tonight, I am grateful to God for time with my family. I am thankful for the blessing of their company and for the ways we can both amuse and care for one another.