Two Ones: April 2011

Opening Day of Baseball is somewhat bitter-sweet for me. It means that baseball is finally back, football is and has been done for a while and won't be back 'til August and that Spring is here and hopefully with it nicer weather. On the other hand it is a really hard and sad event. I love baseball, but the reason I love baseball is because it was something that my dad liked. He loved the Dodgers and baseball in general and even started liking the Giants when Dave entered my life. I loved that my Dad and Dave got along so well and had so much fun with baseball and every other sport on earth. However, since my dad has been gone, it has just not been the same. Sure, Dave and I still have a great Giants-Dodgers rivalry and we make bets on the games. Sure, it is entertaining to watch and cheer for my team, it's just that my heart is just not as into it.

Last night we watched the first game of the season, the Giants at the Dodgers. Dodger Stadium was there, beautiful in all it's historic beauty the "Think Blue" in the background, cars streaming into the parking lot (and out after the seventh!!) and tons of people enjoying the beautiful day. The stands were pretty packed and it was a decent game... the Dodgers did win! I just couldn't help searching the stands for my dad. I don't know why I do this, he is not there, at least not in a state visible to you or I, but it is habit. Some of my favorite times were had at this location, sitting in the stands after getting tickets from "Fast Eddie" and eating Dodger Dogs and last but not least watching Mike Piazza catch a game. I was in love with him!! Do I completely understand everything about baseball...? No, but it didn't matter, I was there with my dad and later Dave too. I wish that I had enjoyed these times just a little more back them, but those memories are something that I will have forever along with my official Mike Piazza jersey($175!!) that my Dad drove down to the stadium to buy for me on the day the Dodgers traded Piazza to the Marlins. That was a pretty sad day, but one that if you didn't know by now was one of the ones that showed just how spoiled this "daddy's girl" was (and still is).

So, in honor of the 2011 Opening Day, we dressed the kids up in some very special outfits that we received when they were born and proceeded to enjoy the game. At least we tried to. Dave spent a lot of the game waiting on us as I am recovering from back surgery and the babies are both teething and have colds. Finally, we watched the last of the game snuggled in bed and I realized just how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family, especially such a wonderful husband who has understood just how hard the past few baseball seasons have been for me. I love that baseball has been and will continue to be such a fun part of my life, after all Dave and I went to Dodgers/Giants game on one of our first dates. Lauren and Nicholas will grow up just like I did with a dad who loves the game and can appreciate, even if he won't admit it, the Dodger organization and it's place in baseball history. They will get to appreciate going to Dodger Stadium and Pac Bell Park with us and hopefully some day think back on it with tears in their eyes just like their mom is doing right now. They will get to decide who "their" team is, who they are going to root for and against, which stadium has the best hot dogs and experience the fun of riding the ferry to and from a Giants game. I think it is pretty safe to say, that regardless of who they choose to root for they are going to be part of a winning team. That team being the Rasmussen - Vissman team that loves them so much and will do whatever they can to help them appreciate what a special part of their history baseball is.

So, once again, I miss you Dad, but thank you for giving me these special memories. I really wish that you could be here today to sit and watch this first series of the year and hold Lauren and Nicholas and explain the game to them. And, last but not least, thank you Davey for ensuring that my love for this game will never die, reminding me about all that is good and right in the world and for being the best husband a daddy's girl like me could ever have. You are the love of my life and I am so grateful for you, proud to call you my husband and especially grateful for all the extra love you have given me these past few months.

Getting ready for the game.