Don't Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

A week ago Sunday, while we were down South for our Godchild's First Communion, we were able to catch the girl's first major league baseball game, Angels v. Orioles.  

Our brother and sister-in-law and one of their two children are big fans of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (formerly California Angels).  They had an abundance of Angels hats and experience to make taking five kids relatively easy.

There is just one problem, inside that stadium lurks a huge fear for one of these five children.  The excitement of being all together was enough to put off the fear until we stepped down into the stadium to find our seats.

These two happy cousins (with the rally monkey around their necks) were excited about spending the afternoon together.  This picture was taken just before we entered the stadium.  Just as we took the escalator up to our area, my sweet niece calmly told me "sometimes I get a little scared of going to the game."  I shrugged it off telling her it was going to be a lot of fun.  I had no idea, the fear she was going to have in just a few short steps.  As we entered the stadium the noise level increased and she began to panic.  Then the star spangled banner (more panic) and just as they reached "the rockets red glare" they shot off fireworks (extreme panic!).  I don't know if I've ever seen anyone with such a realistic panicky fear.  

My sister-in-law rushed her out of the stadium and couldn't get her back in.  Finally after much coaxing and promises to plug her ears as tight as I could she came back.  We worked out a system when she got scared she grabbed my arm and I immediately grabbed both ears while she buried her head.  She was armed with ear plugs and despite the sunny weather would not let go of her protective hoodie.  Of course we had to come to the game with a handful of homeruns each celebrated with fireworks.  ...but when the Orioles were up, it was safe to try some of the delicious snacks we were ordering to soothe her fear.  

Still, she would not let go of that ear protection.  She had this fear starting as a tiny baby.  I remember her crying and crying at a family reunion from the loud noise level.  

For some, there was nothing better than the all American past-time of a baseball game and hot dog (and cotton candy, ice cream, nachos, lemonade and peanuts) and being together.

How quickly the fear disappeared at the end of the game.  It's remarkable how we forget the pain and remember the joy.  My niece told her Mom after the game, "it wasn't that bad!"  Her Mom had a good laugh.