A Day at the ballpark
A Day at the ballpark
By DAVID THEUS
I thought Sunday would be a great day for my six-year-old and me to have what she calls "quality Father - Daughter bonding time," that’s how she says it too. I decided that we would go into Jacksonville and take in a Suns game, turns out Sunday was a home game between the Jacksonville Suns and the Birmingham Barons, part of the Chicago White Sox organization.
We arrived right around 2:30 pm, just thirty or so minutes before the mid-day matinee would begin. Who knew everyone else had the same idea. We saw Daddy’s with their sons and what seemed like inordinate amount of Daddy’s with their little girls too. The only thing that could have made the day any better, would have been if my 20-year-old daughter would have tagged along too. They grow up so fast.
Once inside the park, I told Sarah I wanted to get some info on the different types of foods available in today’s modern day ball game experience. As soon as we made it upstairs to our area where we would eventually sit, there it was, a glorified cornucopia of choice. It was food at every turn; there was a kiosk with quite a line waiting for "brats". They were all being prepared on this hot plate-type griddle. The griddle was smothered in onions, green peppers, and mushrooms too. All served on a warm slightly toasted hoagie roll.
Just next door, after ordering this massive sandwich, you can order a cooling sensation in either a fresh fruit smoothie (virgin), or spice it up a little bit and partake in a loaded frozen daiquiri, or pina colada. Spring is here and so are the things that make this season so much fun. Baseball and plenty of good food and
lashings of cold beverages, beer on tap, bottled beer, and every imaginable bottled beverage to wash it down with.
It was far from over, there were fresh sausage and all beef hot dogs in case you answer to a higher calling Kosher if you must. There was pizza by the slice, piled high burgers, and of course, cotton candy, boiled and roasted peanuts still in the shell. There were chips and salsa, nachos with or without the jalapeño’s and pretzels too. The choices seem to go on forever.
As I said before, there must have been every combination of Dad and daughter or son imaginable. It was refreshing to look out over the nearly full house and see one family after another.
We were even treated to one of Jacksonville’s very own celebrity family’s seated just a few rows down and to the left. It looked like former All Pro Jaguar Tony Boselli’s family and friends were enjoying their visit to the park as well.
The only down side of the whole day was our Suns didn’t win, and we got a sprinkle or two from Mother Nature, but other than that, a great time had by all.
