The Red Sea

Sunday, October 30
In which the Sea of Red once again gathers together…

Sunday was pretty awesome.

Following the usual normalities of the morning and a quick chug-down of deli-style sandwiches, the first car with OLeif, Collette, Mom, and Linnea (all in red), met up with the second car (Joe) at the Galleria, to caravan to the site.
Two hours before the parade start-time, things were already hopping. The Sea of Red; they never kidded about that one. Grandma Combs was there. Uncle Mo and Aunt Petunia nearby. But OLeif and Collette walked another block further to the stadium where the tickets were presented in the chill spritzing rain, and into the gates.
First on the list was a Berkman shirt for Collette. Number 12. There weren’t many times Collette purchased ‘unnecessary items’, but that was one of them. And OLeif, good old chap, who as usual would have said ‘yes’ if she asked for the moon, quickly forked over the funds.
Then up a deck or two to get a good view of the parade. Somehow standing there at the railing for an hour didn’t seem to matter. OLeif dreamt of six-dollar nachos, while Collette kept vigil until…
“I smell horses,” said OLeif.
And not long later, the roar of the crowds as the Clydesdales trotted down the street, followed not long later by Scrabble, and then Berkman. OLeif and Collette then took their seats in the Redbird Clubhouse section to watch the trucks ring around the dirt track as the festivities began. Great applause for all the particularly respected players, including: Berkman, Freese, and Carpenter. And then a lengthy standing ovation, which would have possibly continued indefinitely, for Albert, until one of the MC’s cut it off to continue with the interviews. The other MC was the dad of one of Carrie’s former Sunday School classmates. And after everyone had had their cheers and laughs, the confetti and fireworks commenced.
The evening could have gone on for a long, long time. And Cardinal Nation departed in high spirits.