Halloween Jays
HodgePodge by Charlie Hodge
I’m feeling a tad exhausted, slightly depressed and a whole bunch fully entertained. Like many Canadians I just finished back-to-back stimulating days hosted by Halloween and game seven of the world series.
The latter first. Here’s where most of the depression sets in. Like you I was stoked at the idea of the Blue Jays winning all the marbles, forgetting in fact it was a marvel that the Jays were even playing for the giant cob.
LA Dodgers edged Toronto 5-4 in extra innings Saturday after a nail-biting Game 7 sold out crowd at Rogers Centre. Fans were silenced when Dodger Will Smith’s belted an 11th-inning home run clinched the game for L.A. Miguel Rojas had nailed a game-tying home run in the ninth inning, setting the score 4-4.
Earlier in the season the Jays were not considered serious contenders to wind up at the World Series let alone take the all-powerful Dodgers to seven games before dropping a heartbreaker. (And what’s with that nonsense call regarding the Jay’s ball stuck under the fence?) Pull it out and throw it boys.
Most Toronto fans were thrilled when the boys snagged a blow out win 10-3??? win in the opening series, however, even then many simply dismissed the rouse as an enigma. The average ball fan concluded that the Jays may even win a second game before disappearing.
I was in that number.
I am not a ball fan. (Um, err, change that I am not a huge, all-season long ball fan). Tez and I decided to watch game one of the series since everyone in the world we knew was talking about it. I am a true Canadian sports fan and if we have a team taking part in a tournament of key event I am going to support that team.
Halfway through game two Tez and I were wired. We never missed a pitch in the next five games.
Like much of the nation we believed that the Jays (not to be confused with the Leafs) can pull off a complete miracle and win the big one.
Today Toronto Blue Jays fans across the country are holding their hearts as it pounds away. They are heartbroken after being denied watching their team win its first World Series in 32 years.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said the loss will hurt for a while “when you’re that close.”
Tomorrow the sun will rise and the world will carry on. For some Blue Jays players and fans though it makes for a long night.
***
Certainly, the game caused most, if not all our depression. It also inspired a lot of our entertainment, mentioned early, and a slight amount of exhaustion. (Cheering, nail-biting, opening of beverages, pushing the channel changer…) However the main exhaustion and entertainment factor came Friday night with Halloween.
All Hallow Saints Eves of the past at our house have generally been quiet, but not this year. Clearly a significant shift in the dynamics of our neighbourhood has occurred based on the amount of happy young trick or treaters we met this year. Despite the costumes we recognized the trick or treaters and /or the parent.
Tez and I had noted this summer that several young families that had moved into the neighbourhood for various reasons. The real impact of that observation never bore significant witness until Friday. And what fun it was.
First up, and our favourite was Allana in a princess costume. Melt your heart cute Tez nearly emptied the treat bucket into dasf bag until I intervened. The sweet little two- or three-year-old in her perfect pick dress was, “thoroughly enjoying her first Halloween” according to Dad. She set the tone of fun and frivolity for the rest of the night.
Allana was followed to our door by a bundle eventual trick or treaters kids in all shapes and sizes and all ages. Over the course of the night we dolled out junk food to three giant dragons in gigantic plastic costumes, several firemen, two witches and two ghosts amidst a bundle of other standard characters such as, devils, Martians, animals…
By the end of the evening Tez were burned out but thrilled with the entertaining visitors to our front door. It has been a number of years since we had such a turn out and I hope it continues.
