This is not Mudville

I've seen a lot of baseball live over the years, but I had never managed to see a walkoff home run before. Until last night.

It was a close game most of the way. And as a pessimistic Sox fan in the right field bleachers typically does, I thought the game was over when the top of the ninth rolled around. I was wondering if they'd bring out some random reliever as they were down by 1 run. Suddenly "Wild Thing" played over the P.A. "Hm. I guess Papelbon hasn't thrown in a couple of days and he needs to the work," I thought.

Cinco-ocho came out and pitched the inning 1-2-3. Not before a foul ball festival in there, but still pretty efficient.

The next thing I know, I look up at the scoreboard and notice who is coming up third in the inning for the Sox: David Ortiz.

-Nah. He hasn't done it in over a year. It's too much to ask.
-Hmm. Lugo's on. Maybe Pedroia can get him home.
-Nope. Hey here comes Papi.

As he steps up to the plate, every single person in Fenway is thinking the same thing. Walkoff home run. Earlier in the game, he blasted one into the bleachers just a few rows in front of us. I've probably sat in those seats 20 times and I've never even seen anyone clear the bullpen, but he got it 7 or 8 rows deep.

The count goes to 3-1. I have no idea why the Devil Rays don't walk him. Somehow they give him a pitch that he can hit. And the ball sails high in the air. It looks like a pop foul that the first baseman could handle. Except that it's not. It's still going out towards right field. I can see the right fielder stumbling around after the ball. He was as fooled by it as anyone else. He runs to the foul pole but the ball is coming back the other way. I see it hit the hand of a fan in the stands. Did he reach out and interfere? Was it actually a home run?

I spot the first base ump and he's signaling home run! Fenway Park is filled with joy. The mighty David had not struck out! He'd hit it out!

Jen stayed home with the boy tonight. She's not much for night games, and it's definately past the J-Dawg's bedtime. I walked the mile from the ballpark back to our house and give Jen a kiss hello.

-I heard you guys.
-What?
-I heard two loud cheers from outside, around 10:30. What happened?
-David Ortiz. David Ortiz.

His spirit is no longer encumbered by this world.

My Uncle George passed away suddenly sometime last week. We're not sure exactly when. He had been working as an engineering contractor for Bechtel in Saudi Arabia. He was supposed to fly home to Boston for a few weeks of vacation, but never arrived on Friday. They found him in his apartment in Jubail early on Sunday morning.

I've been thinking about him a lot since we got the news. He was my mom's baby brother. He lived with us in Boston while he was getting his engineering degree at Northeastern. He'd take me along to the library when he had to study, and he taught me how to read.

I remember he had one of the early LED digital calculators. It must have cost a fortune back then, and he let a three year old play with it. He trusted me and he unleashed the tech geek in me.

He was the kindest and most thoughtful person I have ever known. He was always the ringleader of family outings to Chinatown. I'd bring friends with me sporadically. Not only would he remember them, but he'd remember what their favorite dish was and he'd make sure that we got it for them.

When I left Florida in 1999 with no job, or no place to stay, he let me stay with him as long as I needed while I started the next phase of my career and my life.

I can't even imagine who I would be without him. I've been flipping through iPhoto looking for a picture to put up with this post, but I can't find any that do justice to the brightness of his spirit and how much love he brought to everyone he met. I hope these words give you some idea of what he meant to me.