Jim Riggleman gave me the perfect Valentine today. When you expect nothing, everything becomes a pleasant surprise. Today I already had the best Valentine from Jim Riggleman -- pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training. It was springlike weather in DC and to my surprise someone arrived back on a red eye flight just so they could take me to lunch. I had expected nothing today and I seemed so much more calm than my colleagues and friends.
Happiness filled my day today. Meanwhile I witnessed people that had the whole day of anticipation for what turned out to be an evening full of hype overflowing the with failed expectations, unrealistic expectations and let down.
I had a fabulously unexpected lunch in a nice quiet tucked away neighborhood restaurant. I did not even acknowledge that it was Valentine's Day and I wish that the waitress hadn't. It makes it awkward when you have a lot of other things going on, and you want to let the person you are with point that out.
So after a great lunch and personal lessons at the shooting range, I went for a good run along the canals of the Potomac. It was a beautiful day and I had already had my acknowledgement from someone that usually fails to do so, which was a very big deal. My treat at the end of my run was a much needed latte at Starbucks. I walked in the door and within seconds the power went out and it went completely black, so no latte.
Nearing the dinner hour, the entire neighborhood was pockets of darkness. Suddenly there is a whole new use for candles other than romance. I am saddened not to be able to go home and watch MLB network or check my email and my baseball teams' home pages, but I can have a candlelight evening at home and practice my grips on the baseball Stan Kasten signed for me and gave me at the last game. I can be the little kid that is most excited about the approach of Spring and how to me that means baseball.
I smile at the end of my day knowing that I have already had my Valentine's Day with nothing but happiness. I feel happy and fulfilled because more than a box of chocolates or flowers on this day, the best thing is really the beginning of this year's baseball!
