Batter, Batter, Oh NO

 July 3, 2025 - the Iron Pigs game for 7:05 has a rain delay.  That's ok with me.  I go for the food.  Every year we have a great time with a group that rents the Iron Pigs Suite.  I love going and I eat my weight in hot dogs and fried chicken wings and end with a cookie.  It is a tradition for Parke and I. 

I love being with my friends, I love watching Baseball and I love the food.

So, the game has a late start, 8:25. That's ok, I watched the first pitches, the dancers and talked with friends.  

Finally, the games starts and then it happened.  I think it was the 3rd inning.  I heard the crack of the bat, I saw the pop-up fly.  Then I saw John in front of me move, his hand going up and then the next thing I know Bing, bang, boom.  Bing, it hit my calf, my legs were cross, Bang, it hit my stomach, Boom my hand. and then it was gone.  In all that, I never saw the ball.

The usher came and the group said no one was hit, mainly because I could not say a word - the only pain was where it hit me stomach - but my leg was numb, and I couldn't move it.  

When I finally got feeling back,

I went into the suite and asked for ice and then all the commotion starts, seconds later ushers are there.  Then a few minutes later, an EMT. 

Everyone was so nice, and a lot of questions asked.

No, I didn't want an ambulance, nor did I want to go to the hospital to get checked out.  No, I didn't need a wheelchair.  

I kept asking is there anything on my belly, I kept pulling my shirt up, nope nothing there and amazingly that was the only thing that hurt without touching it.  My leg only hurt when the EMT touched it.

The bummer part was we went home - it was only the 4th inning.  I didn't get to sing the 7th inning stretch song or watch the pork race, and cheer on my fav - Ham Bone.

Maybe we can go back for a game one night this year and I can try to make it through the whole came without injury.  

Kudos to everyone that works at the iron pigs.  From the hostess in our suite, to the ushers and the EMT.  Everyone was so nice and caring.  

To the ball that hit me.  YOU SUCK

and that's another day in Catasauqua.

Freedom Let it Ring

 If you want a good cry today, listen to Trace Adkin's song Arlington.  I know it's July 4th - I am not all decorated like I used to be.  I do have one American Flag out and I asked Alexa to play patriotic songs, which led to the song Arlington.  I cried.

Two years ago the freedom of what woman can do was taken away from us.  Roe vs. Wade was overturned.  I called my friend Cathy and all I could say was Cathy and she knew and felt like I did.  Being 67 I can remember what woman went through with back room abortions.  But that day freedom was taken away.  I cried.

Yesterday the BBB was passed, and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unless you a Rich White man, you lost a little freedom.  You might not feel it now, but I guarantee you will.

Today is July 4th, today we celebrate the Declaration of Independence - “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness.” 

I think right now we are losing that happiness.  I remember hearing patriotic songs on the 4th and they made cry, but not because I was sad, but I was proud, proud to be an American.  Proud to think about how our forefathers fought for freedom.  

My family came from Poland.  Their names are at Ellis Island.  This country is made up of immigrants, everyone, unless you are a Native American. Yet we are persecuting immigrants right now.  I know some are in the country illegally, but all they are looking for is the same thing we want, freedom and the pursuit of happiness.  

Isn't there a way to help, instead of sending them to Alligator Alcatraz?

And, if they can build that in a few days why can't we do that for the homeless.  Remember what the Statue of Liberty had engraved on it -  

 Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.  Send these, the homeless, temptest-tost to me.  I lift my lamp beside the golden door.   

I cried

Do you remember 9/11 - Cathy called me to tell me - we came together as nation that day.  Showing the world nothing can tear us apart.   Except right now we are letting something tear us apart.  We aren't the same.  We lost the happiness of the USA.

Do you know what I like to hear on this day - July 4th - it's not a speech by Washington, Lincoln or JFK.  It's  a speech from a movie President in the movie Independence Day where we are attacked by Aliens.  The space kind.

"In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world, and you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. Mankind, that word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interest. Perhaps it's fate that today is the 4th of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom. Not from tyranny, oppression or persecution, but from annihilation. We're fighting for our right to live, to exist. And should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice, we will not go quietly into the night. We will not vanish without a fight. We're going to live on. We're going to survive. Today, we celebrate our independence day." yup - I cried.

Best line is - We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore.  So true!

Happy 4th of July - may you take this day to remember what it is all about.  Remember what freedom means.  Remember the flag, the Statute of Liberty, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States of America.  Remember those who died for our freedom, for America,  

Liberty is the right to live free, you and me, let us not lose it to any authority which chooses to oppress us.  

and I cried, but that's another day in Catasauqua.