Saturday Market, Etc.

Boise has an awesome farmer's market. Each of the four of us has our favorite booth. Bread, jewelry and cookies are at the top of the list. At the south end of the market is a big fountain and often there are performing arts there on Saturday mornings. Yesterday Eliza danced there. The weather was beautiful and it was a perfect day to sit in the middle of the market in a chair with my crossword puzzle book listening to Irish music and chatting with my Mom.

Speaking of my Mom, it has been so wonderful to have her living so close. It is the first time in many years that I haven't had to say a teary goodbye after seeing her for a couple of days. Now, if I could just get my other family members to make the move to Boise...

Speaking of some other family members, I think that my nieces and nephew of New York Yankees persuasion are worried now that Grandma lives in Boise amongst the Red Sox rooters in the family. They probably think that she will change alliances. They don't need to worry though; how many Grandmas do you know who can tell you the starting lineup of the Yanks and insult the Red Sox in the same breath?

And finally, speaking of baseball, the end is near. The end of a frustrating year where most of the time the Red Sox had about half of the players on the field pulled from their Triple A team that morning. Broken feet, fingers, ribs, etc...No playoffs this year. There is no joy in Mudville. Looking forward to opening day next Spring.

I just finished Laura Bush's memoir (you must read it!) and along with her smart and engaging thoughts, I really appreciated what she said about baseball. Enjoy.

"There is a loveliness to baseball that is only found in a stadium, that never quite conveys across the coaxial cables and pixels of a television screen. In a world of hyperspeeds, the game is long and slow and methodical until some explosive hit sends the players on the field into utter pandemonium and brings the crowd to its feet."

-Laura Bush, 'Spoken from the Heart'