A quick word about how friends and family enrich my life, leading me to two diametrically opposed cultural experiences within 24 hours.
Even on the subway to Union Station on the way to the Blue Jays game last night, I was enveloped in team fervour, lots of excited people in the jerseys and caps. As were my grandboys, fully decked out in blue merch, with a mitt in case an errant ball came our way. Anna wore her Jays jersey beneath her keffiyeh, as is her wont. Grandpa Ed and I had bought good seats at vast expense for Ben’s birthday, as both boys love baseball. Ben was especially excited as he thought that somehow we were going to get him to the bullpen to get his cap signed by the players; he was disappointed to learn this was not possible.
More than 36,000 people joined us. It was Looney Dog day, it turned out – hotdogs for one dollar, so Ben ate 4 or 5, and I’m ashamed to say I ate two, which sat heavily in my stomach for many hours afterwards. (Over 65,000, they informed us, were sold.) Anna bought us some beer, and we were ready for the game — us versus the Tampa Rays.
It was dull. Long patches where little happens — umpires consulting, pitchers stretching and spitting, the Jumbotron exhorting us to “Make Some Noise,” so 36,000 people did. There were some thrilling catches, and two Jays home runs leading to roars of joy, but the other team was more solid. By the 8th inning, Ben was writhing, and we left. I was surprised thousands were also streaming out before the end. Final score: Rays 4, Jays 2.
The game may have been lacklustre, but the event was fiercely tribal; all those people in uniform belong to the tribe. Anna and I do not. Glad to have been there, done that, but would not see another professional game, unless one of my grandsons is playing.
Today, as an early birthday present, Ken invited me to lunch and then to the Met Live in HD at Cineplex to see their production of La Bohème. I’m ashamed to say that at nearly 74, I’d never seen La Bohème. And now I’ve seen the definitive production — stunning, every bit of it. Directed by Zeffirelli, incredible sets and direction, fabulous performances and singing — opera singers who can act, Sonya Yoncheva as Mimi and Michael Fabiano as Rodolfo, but they were all great. Miraculous, that on the screen we see close-ups of those faces, ordinary faces with ordinary-sized mouths, emitting the most spectacularly perfect sound.
Unfortunately, there were not over 36,000 people to see it. Maybe 30 for this revival, and almost all of them old.
And finally — Kamala! Suddenly the spirits of many millions, perhaps billions, of the world’s citizens lifted. She is utterly transformed, at least, so far. Where was this sparkling, spirited, dynamic, hard-hitting, joyful woman as vice-president? For some reason, hidden, but now emerging, like all the memes of her as Wonder Woman, to save the planet.
I’m With Her!
On the other hand, Netanyahu can go to hell. And definitely will.
5 Responses to “Blue Jays, La Bohème, and Kamala as Wonder Woman”
Hi Beth – enjoyed the baseball commentary – first time I went to a baseball game (Expos), I was advised by my host’s wife to bring a book – no further comment – disclaimer, I am not a sports fan (you knew that)
I go for the hot dogs and the tight pants.
Yes, Clo, Anna likes the tight pants also, but she went looking for hot dog alternatives. Trevor, I was surprised by how dull it was, how often the Jumbotron people had to rev us up with music or orders. Ben told us when we gave him the tickets that baseball wasn’t his favourite sport any more. “It’s so easy,” he said. “All you have to do is hit, catch, and run.” We did point out there was a great deal of skill in those things, and there is. But still, there’s a lot of standing around! Give me the passionate drama of La Bohème, any day. Mimi takes half an hour to die of consumption, singing all the while. Now that’s action.
When my children were young teens (maybe a couple of them a bit younger than that), we went to a Vancouver Canadians game at Nat Bailey stadium. It was actually a very sweet event. The level was good enough and the beer and snacks were affordable. Views of the mountains all around. Corny stuff between the innings — puppet horse races, etc. I think we went twice and always meant to go again. I thought at the time that sports didn’t need to be any more professional than that.
Now that sounds perfect, Theresa. This was corporate big business. A tiny bit scary, in fact.