Presence

Tomorrow begins another season of baseball. I'm going on a baseball road trip. Sunday, it's up to New York to see the Yankees-Red Sox opener (and to see the Red Sox get the pennant). Then on Monday, it's down to Philadelphia to catch the Washington Nationals major league debut. Should be fun!

It's a tad surreal for me this year; the beginning of a new season, for a Red Sox fan, traditionally involved an unshakable yet irrational optimism tempered by a palpable sense of history-induced reality and forboding. This year, it's a bit different. I'm very relaxed, with no expectations. The way baseball is now, with the free-agent system, the likelihood of a Red Sox dynasty is small. I'm just looking forward to enjoying some baseball, and reveling in last season's victory.

In a bit of seredipity, I'm coaching Ezra's little league team, and we're the Red Sox. I'm missing the first two games (this week for Opening Day, although it will probably by rained out, and next week as we'll be in Palo Alto for Shabbos). This year, God must be a Red Sox fan!