Baseball Widow

Breakfast with the West Seattle Little League Baseball All Stars in Vancouver, WA

July 19, 2008 9:30 AM | 0 Comments

It’s morning at the La Quinta in Vancouver, WA, which is conveniently located less than a mile from the epicenter of this week’s events - HB Fuller Park, where the Washington State Little League Baseball All Star Tournament in the 9/10 Division is occurring. The sounds of energetic, boisterous boys from the Westside Red Bulls All Star team carry through the hotel halls. I establish one important point. How do you pronounce La Quinta: La KWIN tah, La KEEN tah, or La KIN tah? I’ve heard everything. The desk clerk confirms my favored pronunciation: La Keen tah. It’s gratifying to see my elementary school TV Spanish coming back to me.

My girls – 13-year-old Kit and 8-year-old Caroline - and I go down to the Continental Breakfast area to dine. Bryan and our All Star, 10-year-old Austin, are sleeping in. They have their own room because our family of five can’t wedge into a single room without devouring each other. Ka ching $$$$$. This tournament is not a cheap date. I’m glad we fundraised, because it takes away some of the financial sting. Not only is it pricey, but parents are taking off from work, which adds more complications and hardship in some cases.

Upon entering the dining area, I am immediately confronted with a machine, a Make-Your-Own Waffle Iron. I have a different definition of Nanotechnology, which is that, when I, Nan, confront a machine of any kind, a wall goes up and I am rendered completely inept. There are two sets of instructions above THE MACHINE, but even though I’m challenged, I don’t read no stinking instructions. I prefer a kinesthetic learning style. So the cheerful man next to me gives me a tutorial, pointing out tools and techniques: cooking spray, a cup filled 2/3rds with batter from a dispenser and a giant plastic fork to pry off the finished product. I think I was stationed there for about 30 minutes before I emerged with 3 waffles. The rest of the trip, I watched with amusement as other people grappled with the waffle-maker. Apparently I am not the only one who is afflicted with Nanotechnology.

More to come in today's chapter with your roving correspondent.

The Sports Widow
(aka Nan Hall)