Neena's SPORT'S FLASH: BULL PIN OR DUG OUT YOU VOTE

I AM SHOCKED TO FIND MYSELF SITTING AT A TEXAS RANGERS GAME FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS SUMMER!  But it is my husband's very favorite date and I just could not say no.  Watching and listening to him is like a "reality TV moment" as he  truly transforms into a very interesting creature and he makes me laugh.  He becomes a  sports newscaster and ranger coach!  I only uttered an occasional "oh" while he gave a play by play account of each player's history as they took their place on the field.   While the pitcher, the man known for his strong arm, walked to  his lonely spot on the mound he filled me in on his sad life.  Sitting and listening intently Rich began to  tell me that Harrison  was their starting pitcher early in the season.  He was injured and now is in the bull pin.  I said "oh"  Rich kept talking, when he took a pause I ask the question:  do they get paid if they stay in the bull pin?  He said "Yes, why do you ask?"
I said, "Well if  I were a pitcher I would just stay in the bull pin.  Why?  Because the balls go 84 mph and faster, it is very hot, and when they start to lose it is the pitcher who gets  booted off the field!  NO ONE ELSE! It is not a quiet ordeal.  He is escorted off  with the JUSTIN boot advertising flashing all over the stadium  The flashing of lights are neon and near humiliating.  The flashing of lights is the  public announcement of the pitcher's boot.  If that is not enough to ruin the pitcher's self esteem forever a live band appears on the same neon sign with the flashing lights.  I look around  and everyone begins line dancing to BOOT SCOOT'IN BOOGIE.  The crowd burst into song as  the pitcher walks slowly to the bull pin with head hung low.   The crowd just sort of gets crazy!
 I also noticed the crowd does all sorts of strange things:   when a players runs faster  or he nearly kills himself sliding into a base the sign of the claw appears or the flashing of fake antlers.  My husband, yes the one who color codes his shirts and refuses to participate in most of my foolishness, stands tall leading the crowd with the "claw" or "the moving of fake antlers" on his head!  For three hours I smile and watch my husband do these very strange things and talk a mile a minute and I love watching how HE watches a ball game as a playful little boy.  I also love feeling like his date.
 My "unpaid editor" just informed me when the Pitcher gets the boot he goes to the dug out,  not bull pin,  where he will wait out the long night.  I said, "Hummmm I wonder if I am wrong on this.  What do you think?  Let me hear your VOTE:   Dug out?  Bull pin?

Neena elf with Santa at the game!

Well  that heavy discussion about the game only took us to the second inning.  I was wondering what would happen over the next 7 innings that would keep me very interested.  Just as I was beginning to get restless Rich nudges me and says, " look to the right....God has sent your best friend here to the ranger stadium, your emotional soul mate.  Take a picture the kids will never believe it:  Elf of 40 years meets up with Santa at the Ranger game and it is only September."
He even gave me his business card!

The game ended and Rich said, "Do you want to go to the playoffs?"  I said, "Maybe, will Santa be there?"  He looked at me and said, "I think I'll take the boys!"
The ride home I had to smile.  Here we are a couple married over 40 years and I just watched my husband do the claw and the antler dance in a crowd of 39,000 Texas Rangers fans and he just watched me go sit on Santa's lap in a crowd of 39,000 fans in September.  I just shared part of the recipe for "how to stay married for 40 years".