I’ve been to lots of Bar and Bat Mitzvah’s over the years but Saturday night was my first Bnai Mitzvah: a boy and a girl were both celebrating the rite of passage. My boss’s kids were the honorees; and wow, was the daughter amazing at reading Hebrew. Now, I was pretty good in my day; so was my brother, our San Diego cousins, and a few other great Hebrew-reading kids I’ve witnessed. But she blew us all away. Just incredible speed and accuracy.
The party afterwards was quite a blast as well. Did a fair amount of dancing and partaking of the kids table’s candy (don’t worry, there was plenty). I even waltzed…faired decently, though maybe I should just stick with the electric slide.
Sunday visited Mom to wish her a happy Mother’s Day. Got her a pair of Shabbat candlestick holders and candles (from South Africa). Now that I have a decent-paying job, gotta spend money on the people that got me here.
Then met up with “Nashua” Gretchen and went to Baltimore. Met up with my Dad who got us great seats behind home plate and in front of the press box. As we found our seats I was kicking myself for not bringing my glove. I always bring it to the yard, but I thought since we had to get game-day tickets we’d be in the upper deck.
My worst nightmare came true when the first batter for Cleveland lines one straight back…at me. Well, my goalie reflexes come in handy as a take off my hat and prepare to use it as a makeshift glove. But the backspin on the ball makes it curve downward and the balls smacks off the heel of my right hand … and into the arms of a guy three rows below us. Damn.
But I would have my revenge! In the eighth, another cleveland batter fouls one back. This ball has more arc, and I forget about the hat and make a clean barehanded grab! As I’m celebrating my newfound souvenir, I hear the announcer say “Give that fan a contract.” Woohoo!!! The usher comes over, and my hand is shaking from excitement as I write my address for them to send me my mock Orioles contract! Cross that of my life goals list :) And as a side note, the O’s won 12-11.
Saw the movie Jersey Girl (highly recommended) in a Baltimore suburb with Gretchen, and then drove back to Northwest where we drank milkshakes in a diner.
Now that was a good weekend.