This past weekend, T. and I did something we have not done in a LONG TIME. We played softball. I think, before this past weekend’s charity tournament, I had played softball one time in the last 20 or so years. I have no idea how long it’d been since T. played, but he wasn’t sure of his abilities before we played either (or he was being modest). To say I had anxiety about it would be an understatement. But we were doing it for friends and a good cause, so we sucked it up.

There were no available grandparents or aunts/uncles in the area to watch the kids, so they came with us. It was a long day for them, especially E. Belle. Poor girl slept probably 45 minutes the whole day.

It was a double elimination tournament, so we knew we had to at least play two games. T. and I had planned to switch off playing and watching the kids, so I sat out the first game and cheered him (and the team) on with the munchkins. T. rocked it! He did really well, which was fun to watch, but made me even more nervous to take his place in the next game. Our team won that one, so we added a game to our day.

There was an hour to wait for the next game, so the kids messed around and got progressively crankier/more tired (and maybe I did, too). T. decided, even though he’s an old man and hurt his hip in the first game, that he was going to bat in the second game, and that the kids were going to hang out with us in the dugout.

I barely hit the ball or get any action in right field, and we lost that game (but I don’t think those two things are all that related).

We had three hours to kill between the second and third games so we ate lunch; E. Belle was way beyond needing a nap. We went over to my brother’s house, a couple of blocks away, while his family hung out at the ball field because they were playing too and laid her down. She slept for a while, and then woke up less than an hour later just screaming and crying. We tried to drive around for a while and get her to fall asleep in the car, but she wasn’t having any of it.

The last game (whoops-spoiler alert! We lost.) was the most eventful, for me at least. T. was getting pretty tired and sore, so he wasn’t quite on his game, but he gave it his best shot. I batted twice, and didn’t play the field at all. The first time I hit it….well, I didn’t know it was possible, but my feet didn’t quite keep up with the rest of my body and I fell running to first. It was humiliating, and painful. Thankfully, my weight was all on my knees first, and hands, so I didn’t land on my belly and puke or anything. But again, to say I was embarrassed is a HUGE understatement! I was forced to bat again, and I feel like I sort of redeemed myself. I hit it, and made it to first. Woohoo! Unfortunately (and fortunately, since I hate to run), I didn’t make it any farther before our team was out.

All in all, it was a long, tiring, and (mostly) fun day. I definitely would love to play softball again (non-competitively), and I imagine we’ll play in next year’s tournament. Especially if we get t-shirts next time!!