Highest Highs to Highest-er Highs!!!

 At POLI this week… our team bonding event was attending the Angels’ AA affiliates, the Trash Panda.  And we get to have 1 member our team throw out the first pitch. 

I normally wouldn’t make a scene or rock the boat… but I quickly shot my hand up and was gonna duke it out with others.  But when I made my plea… and honestly, others didn’t care… that it was on my bucket list, every one yield.   I was voted by my peers to toss out the first pitch!!!! 

Ran back to the hotel.  Texted the fam.  Texted my buds.  This was THE MOMENT!!!  Then I started tossing the a sock in my hotel room to warm up.  Wouldn’t wanna embarrass myself and miss the plate or skip the ball.  That would be the worst!!!

I hurried to the ballpark.. .got to guest service, who told me I was 15 minutes late.  And there’s nothing they can do.  In my mind… I’m thinking… you’ve got 30 minutes.  How hard would it be to get a person to the field.  Seriously????  But they wouldn’t budge.  I played the “I’m from out of town.  And I drafted Zach Neto for my fantasy team card (It was Zach Neto jersey giveaway night).”  And by happenstance… the security guard supervisor walks by.  They explain to her what’s happening… and they take me down.  I’m on the field.  Standing with 11 other people.. LOL. 

I’m in line… and everything was sped up by 15 minutes.  None of my friends were at the ballpark yet.  No one will see it or record it!!! (Shucks).  But right when I get marched to the mound… a lady walks by and asks if I wanted her to record me, and I said, “That’ll be great!!”  I stood at the mound (not on the mound, mind you) next to the mascot… and then it was go time!!  “Our catcher isn’t wearing any gear… no heaters.”

Within seconds… “#1… XYZ from blah blah blah….”

Then “#2… Hank Leung from…….”  I got so nervous.  Didn’t know where my friends were.  Saw the catcher crouch down.  I waved.  Winded up.  Pointed.  Tossed…. And the rest is history.

I went from my highest high…. To even higher-est high!!!!!!!!!!   I friggin sailed the ball over the catcher’s head!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!  I covered my face in shame!!!! That was horrible!!!!! 

All my life I’ve been waiting for this moment… to be like George Bush post-911.  To be like that nun.  To be like Russell Wilson or Kaep.  Or like Dave (Kevin Klein).  I was robbed of that moment.  More-so… I robbed myself. 

Spent the rest of the night enduring condolensences and ribbin’ from my buds.  Rightfully deserved.

 But you know what… bucket list-  CHECK!!!!!!!!!!!!! …. At that moment in time.