La Vida

I hate the word karma. I love the concept.

The word is too hippie-dippie, too flower-child-peace-and-love. The concept that things tend to balance in the end is brilliant.

For instance, my life is relatively boring. Very little that is truly good happens because, conversely, very little that is truly bad happens. It may not be terribly exciting but it’s easy on the nerves.

My sojurn in Miami is a case in point. I haven’t moved ahead as fast as I might have liked, it hasn’t exactly been a pleasant place to stay for a week but what comes around goes around and the Good Lord above always repays you for your trials and tribulations.

For example, I recently set a goal to attend a game in every major league ballpark in the country. I figured that with this year off to a pretty good start (three games, four teams and counting) it was probably a doable goal with the extra-added bonus of getting to travel far and wide. Think of it: a trip to Southern California to see the Padres, Angels and Dodgers, a trip to Northern California to see the Giants and A’s. a visit to Chicago for the White Sox and Cubs, etc.

I randomly heard on the radio that the Marlins were in town for a six game home stretch and decided, in keeping with my new goal, that I needed to catch a game. Karma came through for me in the guise of some spare tickets the company had for a customer appreciation night. Oh yes, free baseball. And it gets better. This isn’t one of those General Managers who rents a spare row in the club level. Hell no, this is the full-blown rent a skybox for the night with free beer and sausages kind of guy.

So I found myself soaking up a little A/C despite the open windows, drinking free beer, eating free dogs and sausages and watching Dontrell Willis pitch around Barry Bonds every time he came up. And best of all, the Marlins, bane of the Phillies and Cubs, lost in extra innings by walking in a run.

You gotta love that.

The road to the goal? Six teams, four stadiums, and counting.