The End of a Season

The Travs regular season ended Monday afternoon. It was a quick game and we enjoyed it very much especially because they won. (The guys are in the playoffs so we have a few more games but this was the end of another season) My little guy has a hard time letting go at the end of a season. His heart just breaks when he thinks of the special friends he will not see as much and well you know when his heart breaks so does mine (double - I think). This end of season was no different unless of course you consider that the heartbreak seemed much worse. I cried and I think that embarrassed Hayden. He told me I hugged two of the guys TOO long. :-)



As we stood there taking it all in with special friends and heroes to my buddy, someone said "It's just a game and they're just boys". Could that be true? No I think not. Yes it is a game and yes they are boys but let's think. It's a dream, it's a career and these "boys" put it all out there on the line in front of us each day for almost 6 months. We don't have to do that in our careers. They let us in to their hopes and share their lives, their parents, wives or girlfriends, and kids with us. If we are lucky enough to get to know any of them, we share our lives and let them in our hearts.



For Hayden, they are heroes. What an impact so many of them have had on him. They are "big boys" who take the time with him and share in his life and dreams. Does he care if they make it to the Majors? Nope. Yes, he has those dreams for "his" ballplayers and he wants that for all of them. (Of course, it does not make him happy for them to leave him to go up - this may never change) But does it matter as far as he cares for them? Nope, not one bit. They are "his" and he loves them.



I read an article once that was centered on the theory that baseball will break your heart. It is geared more to the players but you know what, the fans heart breaks too. It breaks for "boys" who get hurt, who don't get to play enough and who see dreams fade away. As I write this my heart aches and the tears are close by.



On the way home Monday, Hayden wanted to know why "we" did this to him. Curious (and admittedly a bit perturbed with the statement), I asked what do "we" do to you? He responded with letting him know some of the guys would not be back next year (one in particular). Now, how we are supposed to keep that from him, I just don't know. So doing what any good (cranky) Mom does, I reminded him that "we" are the ones that drive him 7 hours to tell one of "his" ballplayers bye after he did not get to when he got moved to Triple A, that "we" are the ones who drove him to Memphis in a torrential downpour to see "his first" ballplayer because he had not seen him in a couple of years, "we" are the ones who get up on a Saturday morning and drive 6 hours to see one of "his" ballplayers who was not closer the week before and "we" are the ones who arrange vacation time to take him to Spring Training to see "many of his" ballplayers at one time. So will we "keep doing this to him"? Probably so. As long as he loves the sport and "his" ballplayers then every effort will be made to be there and to share in special times and to let them know how much he cares and wants to see them.



So is it "just a game" and are they "just boys"? No, not to this family.

Waiting patiently for one of "his" ballplayers...

Waiting for another....... the patience in waiting for "his" ballplayers is amazing considering how little patience he has other times......Is it all about baseball? No sir. Such wonderful examples of young men Hayden has chosen to be "his" ballplayers. He sees that they are not afraid to pray and be open about their beliefs and he followed suit before his games