Dear Linc,

There may be a ballgame coming up for me. I have to check my schedule to make sure, and if it works out, I might not make batting practice, which spoils my longstanding tradition of getting to The Ballpark early. If I miss batting practice, I am usually fine with that — life does get in the way —  but I get anxious if the anthem is starting, or has finished. And I never like going to my seat when someone’s at bat even when the usher isn’t looking and you can sneak back in, because I hate being the rude “down in front” person and, anyway, I don’t go to ballgames to socialize. My enjoyment is governed by a Roger Angell-like protocol.

I’ll be skipping the Dodgers series because they are always expensive, and too rowdy for my tastes anyway — they’re almost like going to a football game. 

I wonder what kind of perspective you have about baseball as someone who actually works as a baseball player. Much inevitable disappointment has come my way since I started working at a bookstore, but I suppose that happens in many dream job scenarios, and I still love it. Do you think that fans like me are weird because we have such offbeat habits, like my anal attitude about getting to The Ballpark on time and not blocking the rows? In high school, I had a philosophy teacher whose counterpoint to his intellect was a belief in some formula he concocted that he was convinced always ensured double plays for his favorite team. (What team that was, I never asked, because I wasn’t into baseball back then. The Orioles would be a safe bet, since the Nats didn’t yet exist.)

The last game I went to, Clara gave me a ride but I made her turn around when I realized that I’d forgotten a critical accessory. She knew that I always brought my radio with me but she was just as surprised as I was when I cried, “I forgot my lucky radio!” Without knowing the fact until that moment, that radio wasn’t so much about luck as it was about tradition. And the nascent proclamation went on to become, in fact, part of a win.

Today I only work until 2:30 but I can’t go right home because I promised I’d be at church today to help with welcoming folks to service. I hate to make it sound like church is an obligation, but just as important as spiritual fulfillment and hanging out with church friends is taking a nap, too.

Joe