The days are getting longer, the birds are chirping and the crisp smell in the air can only mean that summer is coming and baseball season is upon us. Baseball, that old fashion past time enjoyed by so many, whether it be playing or be a spectator from the stands.
Denise loved baseball; She didn’t love the sport as much as she loved the event. For her, baseball wasn’t about winning or losing, (although if the M’s didn’t win there was a lot of yelling in the house!) Never the less it was more of a way of life. It represented spring and summer time; The boys coming out to play “Ball”.
Each spring Denise would tune into the Mariners, if there was a game going on it could be seen on every TV in the house. She was constantly working, taking care of everyone and it was rare to find her sitting in front of the television, even so, she knew everything that was going on. She could tell you the score, inning and anything else you would ask her. The occasional manager kicking dirt on the umpire or bench-clearing brawl would always bring a twinkle to her eye.
Every year Denise, the girls, and I would get out to at least one Mariner game. She loved walking into the ballpark, the smell of hot dogs and the sound of the bat. Her favorite games were the day game; in the first inning we usually sat in the shade where it was cold enough to remember the previous winter but by the seventh inning stretch, we were baking in the summer sun. For Denise heckling the umpire and yelling out the opposing pitcher or batter was all part of the “ball players way of life”.
July 26th will be my first Mariners game since Denise passed away. I am quite excited that the LaFond Charitable Trust’s first event to honor Denise will be at this Mariners game and that on that night there will be a celebration for her all-time favorite Mariner, Edgar Martinez, who will be entering the hall of fame!
I hope to see at the ballpark!
Contributed by Mark Haroldson
The LaFond Charitable Trust 