MY SITE
  • BLOG
  • ABOUT DONNA
  • CONTACT

​​FUN

WITH
​
HEIRLOOMS





TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME

8/26/2017

4 Comments

 
Picture
Brian and I at Great American Ball Park Thursday night in Cincinnati.
We were at the ballpark Thursday night with our friends from Northern Indiana, Tom and Char Kuhn. The Kuhns are huge Cubs fans, Brian is a White Sox fan, and I grew up a Reds fan. But for one beautiful, summer evening, I was simply a fan of the game itself, and of a special evening out with friends.

Tom is Brian's best friend dating from their high school days. Char is his fun-loving, vivacious wife. It's a shame we don't get to spend much time with them. Tom, Brian, and Brian's brother, Steve, take a fishing trip together every summer. Tom and Char are there for our family's big events such as the kids' open houses and Sam's wedding, and vice versa.

We always say we'll get together more. Now that three of the four of us are retired, I truly hope that can happen. Brian is so happy around Tom and the four of us get along great. (I mean, look, the man is letting me take photos of his smiling face and normally he's like "I don't like my picture taken.")
Picture
The riverwalk is an ingenious way for urban folks -- and visitors -- to enjoy the river and visit the sports facilities.
We enjoyed a stroll along the river walk which takes folks along a parks  complex that ends with the city's signature ball parks. Pretty ingenious. This is Tom, Char and Brian before dinner and the game.
Picture
Dinner was on the riverfront at this rib house that let us keep our car there at no charge and we walked the river walk to the ballpark.
Picture
Char had been looking forward to the ribs ... she ordered them once before when they were at Montgomery Inn.
I grew up watching the Big Red Machine in the 1970s and my hometown of Liberty backed the Reds. When the Reds were in the Playoffs and World Series, TV monitors were set up in the cafeteria where students could watch day games.

I grew up occasionally attending Reds games with family. It was always a big event when we visited Crosley Field (I must have been all of age 5, but I remember it) and Riverfront Stadium. Even though my family has been to Great American several times, I had never been.

Baseball was a personally huge part of our family's life for a dozen years as our son, Ben, was talented  player and every summer meant not only local league play, later high school action, but also travel teams that took us all over the Midwest and even Arkansas. Our summers revolved around his games. And then, it ended. Abruptly. A part of that broke my heart.

Once his baseball days were over, I could hardly look at a baseball game on TV, let along visit a ballpark. In fact, Thursday's game was my first return after eight years. Looking at that beautiful green field in Cincinnati brought it all back. As we walked to our seats a few rows  from the field, the classic, "Put Me in Coach" played for the fans and yes, I felt a lump in my throat.

I knew I would enjoy the evening's company and the setting on a perfect summer evening, but I didn't expect to enjoy the game. To my surprise and delight, I did. I'm back!
Picture
Picture
Of course what we really enjoy in life is mostly always about the people.
Picture
After the game, we headed back to Indiana. Brian decided to take a different route to avoid a road-work detour. We headed north through Rushville, then hit U.S. 40 and turned west through Knightstown.

This was my favorite -- and most unexpected -- part of the evening.

We mentioned to Tom that the Hoosier Gym, the site where many scenes in the classic basketball movie, Hoosiers, were played, is in that town. So of course we drove up to it and at 12:30 a.m., Brian and guests went up to the doors and peered inside. I remained in the "getaway" car as we all felt as though someone might call the cops on us. We all giggled like kids.

Tom even took pictures in the dark night of the sign outside. We promised to take them back the next time they visit. Only we'll go during the day as paying customers.

It was a happy return for me to the majesty of a ballpark, and an unexpected ending to a lovely "double-date night." Next time, let's play two.


Categories

All
Author Journey
Christmas
Cooties
Crafts
Creepy!
Faith
Family
Farm
Fashion
Friendships
Gardening
God Bless America
Gratitude
Guest Posts
Hair!
Halloween
Holidays
Home
Indiana Bicentennial
Keeping The Peace
Life Connections
Mail Call
Newspapers
Pen Women
Photography
Poison Ivy!
Quilting Club
Reggie
Retirement
Sadness
Seasons
Seller's Cabinet
Shopping
Sleep
Snow Day
Tourism
Travel
Union County
Weird Food
What We Keep
Writing

4 Comments
Gay kirkton
8/27/2017 05:51:31 am

When you travel with the Cronks expect the unexpected!

Reply
Donna Cronk
8/28/2017 04:23:43 am

That's how we roll!

Reply
Debbie M. link
9/1/2017 08:23:11 am

Donna... Thanks for sharing your evening in Cincy with us! Another Cincy favorite in our family is Skyline Chili (or in other words, chili on spaghetti!) Years ago, a co-worker who lived in Cincy introduced us to Skyline Chili which you can get in Indiana too. Your post reminds me that each city, small or large, has something interesting to discover!

Reply
Donna Cronk
9/1/2017 08:59:19 am

Yes, and we've always enjoyed Cincinnati. Lots of memories there and fun to make a new one. My childhood best friend's mom was a Cincy native and I would accompany the family shopping there. I always think of Frisch's regarding Cincy. Also, bought my very first car there! A green Ford Pinto in fall 1977! Bought my wedding gown at the JC Penney Outlet store in summer 1978! Good times.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    DONNA CRONK

    FUN WITH HEIRLOOMS
    is my most popular program for 2023, inspired by my memoir There's a Clydesdale in the Attic: Reflections on Keeping and Letting Go. Contact me to hear about my programs for your event.

    CONTACT: Let's talk about it. Call me at 317-224-7028. Email:
    newsgirl.1958@gmail.
    com.  



    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    Categories

    All
    Age Thing
    Aging
    Author Journey
    Christmas
    Clydesdale In The Attic
    Cooking
    Cooties
    Crafts
    Creepy!
    Decor
    Faith
    Family
    Farm
    Fashion
    Friendships
    Gardening
    God Bless America
    Gratitude
    Guest Posts
    Hair!
    Halloween
    Holidays
    Home
    Indiana
    Indiana Bicentennial
    Keeping The Peace
    Life Connections
    Mail Call
    Newspapers
    Next Chapter
    Pen Women
    Photography
    Poison Ivy!
    Quilting Club
    Reggie
    Retirement
    Sadness
    Seasons
    Seller's Cabinet
    Shopping
    Sleep
    Snow Day
    Tourism
    Travel
    Union County
    Weird Food
    What We Keep
    Writer Chicks Society
    Writing

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from Lise1011, Simone Ramella, StarsApart, Biblioteca General Antonio Machado, kennethkonica, roseannadana: Thank you for 3 million views, GotCredit, chuck4x5, besnette, nielskliim, James E. Petts, jeffdjevdet, rumolay, kkmarais, tgrauros, susivinh, Larry1732
  • BLOG
  • ABOUT DONNA
  • CONTACT