And Here's the Pitch...

And Here's the Pitch...

How do you like my nurse's picture of Phillies' pitcher Brett Myers after delivering a pitch to home plate?

As I have said before, the baseball season doesn't officially get underway until I make my first appearance at a Phillies game. With temperatures in the low 80s and a clear blue sky here in Philadelphia today, I couldn't think of a better day for baseball. It turned out to be an even better day, as the Fightin' Phils belted four homeruns and crushed the visiting Houston Astros, 10-2.

The first game I attend each year is always a bit emotional for me, as I never know if it will be the last season for me. Six years ago, when I began seeing my current cardiologist, I told him that I was hopeful to be able to attend a game at the Phillies' new ballpark, then under construction. Well, not only was I able to be there in 2004, the first season that they played at Citizens Bank Park, I have been around for four more seasons, now that this one has begun. I'm sure glad that I got to see last season, when the Phillies reached the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

Since it has been open, I have been pleased with the accessibility at Citizens Bank Park and have found the staff extremely helpful. Having been given tickets to today's game as a gift in a non-accessible seating area, I needed to trade them in for accessible seating (well, parking in my case). All I had to do was go to the guest services desk and with no problem at all, they moved me to some great accessible seats behind home plate but up a couple of levels.

I had a nice time today. It's great to be 1-0 in games I have attended so far this year. I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts, because I have become the kiss of death for my local teams in recent years!