Jess Jess left her phone at home, which is like if you came to a ballgame with me and you left, let’s say, your head at home. There is some fretting; we discovered the lack just after we parked at the BART station. There is considerably less fretting about having left her vape pen at home; both of them were charging in the same place, but the phone is really the big deal. To her credit, by the time we get to the park, the distress, or at least talking about it, is over with, and it seems like the rest of the evening proceeds more or less trouble-free. Well, with respect to the phone, anyway. There is a little bit more disappointment when the line for the crab sandwiches – you may remember the crab sandwiches from the last time Jess Jess was here – is far too long to get involved in, and then later when she goes back to find that it’s even longer in the third inning. Fortunately, some chicken tenders and a hot dog serve to ameliorate the problem.
Jess Jess said earlier that at least forgetting her phone meant that she could concentrate on the game, but the game is not that much of a thriller; as seems to be the routine these days, the Giants give up a run early and then spend the rest of the game fighting uphill, where ‘fighting’ has certain values that do not include scoring. Fortunately, there is a lot else going on in the park. For one thing, it’s Nurses Appreciation Night, and although I did not bring either of my personal nurses, I did get up to the third deck to pick up the special-event themed extra, which in this case is a Lou Seal doll that comes with a scrub top, a stethoscope, and a string that you pull to make it tell you gross things about work. If you put it next to another nurse doll, they talk about nurse stuff together while you look at your phone. There is also a brisk trade in people who don’t have tickets for Section 152 coming to sit in Section 152, resulting in a situation where Debbie and Maryanne, who I have assured that it’s okay to sit here, leaving for a little while and then coming back to Row 3 with such a confident attitude that two other people get up and move for them.
The road trip last week was not a great one – the Giants came home having won two of six, which is not a pace that will take them to the postseason. It is, in fact, a pace that has taken them out of the postseason, from what seemed like a solid grip on a wild-card spot to a place that makes me think of the phrase “As our boat pulls away from the shore and the Giants sink slowly in the west…,” which I might have made up but can’t confidently claim as my own. Gerry, who is my crankiest Giants friend, shakes his head sadly (or at least I imagine he does – we’re talking on the phone and I don’t know for sure) and remarks on the change since June; I commiserate but remind him of the bright spot, which is that the Giants are generously taking out of my hands the decision about whether I can afford to buy postseason tickets. Tonight is not much different. The road trip included two losses in three games to the Braves, who are here tonight to start their series with another win. The final score is 5-1 Atlanta. We can hope tomorrow is better (it will not be).
What Did You Think of the Evening, Jess Jess?
“Attending a ball game with Justin is always a memorable experience! I left my phone at home by mistake… if you know me, you know that’s a big deal! The initial anxiety about being without my device faded away as engaging conversations took over. The excitement of the game and the joy of spending quality time with Justin outweighed the disappointment of leaving my phone and of the Giant’s loss. This outing served as a reminder that cherished moments and meaningful connections matter far more than any material possessions or game outcomes.“
81 Dates 