After leaving the Bronx Zoo at five, I took the subway about 30 minutes to Yankee Stadium. I had realized that once I was going to the Bronx for the zoo, I could hit two goals in one day and go to the Yankees game after the zoo (Yankee Stadium is in the Bronx as well). I am not a sports person, but I can follow a baseball game (live), and I do find that they have a special charm. Baseball (maybe all sports) feels anachronistic somehow – it is so analog and brings you into the moment. This was my second baseball game ever (lol).
I had intended to leave early so that I would get back home not too late, but since the game heated up around 9, I decided to stay and Uber home from the train station later. This game proved to be a total blast – I absolutely loved it. Multiple home runs, double outs, etc. – it was very exciting. The Yankees won 10-5. I had a hot dog and a potato knish (I would swap that out for a hot pretzel next time). It felt very participatory and I did all the cheering, YMCA, etc. (my family was impressed to hear about it later). I loved watching the sky over the stadium darken and the subway train pass back and forth behind the stadium and the field and whole scene glow brightly in the night.
When the game finally ended in much jubilation at around 10, I headed out with the crowd to look for the subway. As I was orienting myself, a frum man with two teenaged boys noted my bewilderment and asked where I was trying to go. I told him, and…he said he was going there too and offered to drive me to my door. This saved me at least an hour (not to mention maybe $30) and felt way safer than taking public at that hour.
Now, according to the internet, there were over 41,000 people at this game. And in that kind of crowd, in the dark, I crossed the path of the person who would drive me to my door. This felt like the crowning gift of the whole day. I may have never experienced “hameichin mitzadei gaver” this literally.
I got home and told everyone who would listen about my incredible day. I’ll always remember it!
(Photo credit: David Vives/Unsplash)
