Last Week In September

We are off to a good start this last week of the ninth month of 2012.

Four of us went to Boston yesterday.  My daughter bought tickets to a Red Sox game for Ken's January birthday.  At the time we had no idea that this would be the least winningest season the Sox have had in 15 years.  I was looking forward to the trip regardless of the team's record, and it was made all the better that T could join us, which worked out well because he stayed in Boston to fly out to Seattle today. 

While T dropped off his luggage with a friend, three of us had lunch at Thorntons Grille after more than three long years without this jewel in a Fenway neighborhood.  In January of 2009 Thorntons Grille and a row of adjoining small businesses were completely destroyed by fire.  My son sent me a link to the news article.  We were all very sad.  This restaurant was our favorite place to eat when we visited the guys in Boston and one of their go-to places for a meal with friends.  We watched with anticipation as plans to rebuild evolved; the surrounding community was adamant that the restaurants and shops needed to be rebuilt as they were, to reflect the character of the neighborhood.  It took two years and many hearings, but community members won and plans were developed. 

This summer Thorntons Grille reopened.  It is as good as it ever was, atmosphere and food.  Yeah!

The day was gorgeous.  We had walked the two miles from the bus station to the restaurant.  Under a clear blue sky we then walked over to Fenway Park for a 1:35 p.m. game.

The ballpark is 100 years old this year.  It has been several years since I've been to Fenway but nothing has changed.  The wooden seats painted dark green are as close as possible to the row in front and the one behind, so you quickly get to know your neighbors.  The green posts supporting the upper tiers may obstruct a portion of your view of the field, unless the fans sitting next to you leave early and you move down a few seats.  Kids of all ages eat cotton candy and popcorn. The coffee is made by Dunkin' Donuts, fresh and hot.

We had a wonderful time.  It was a bonus that it was a great game and the Red Sox won.  Afterward we all walked up to see the "red seat," a regular seat painted red to commemorate a phenomenal homerun that Ted Williams hit in 1946 against Detroit.  I hadn't seen it before, and it was fun to be in the ballpark as people made their way out of the stands.  Families with children were filling the left field grandstand so the kids could run the bases on the field, a real treat for the youngest fans.

T walked with us to the subway station, he headed back to his friend's apartment while we headed to South Station to catch a bus home.  We all wished him luck for his Thursday interview in Seattle with the company that designed the "greenest" commercial building in the world.

It was a good day and a good start to this last week in September.  I have an interview on Friday for a teaching job I don't know much about, other than it's in a middle school with a good reputation and a philosophy of education that I embrace.

It may turn out to be too good to be true, but I have all week to imagine the best case scenario for T and me.