When I was a kid, one of the biggest highlights of my day was the unmistakable tune from the Mister Softee truck. I could hear it from a couple of blocks away and it was my signal to run inside and ask my mom if I could get money for ice cream.
If she was in a good mood she’d grab her purse and hand me a couple of dollars and told me to make sure I got something for my little sister. That would be awesome, a little dixie cup for her, and a giant banana boat for me.
A banana boat was heaven on earth for me, three swirls of soft-serve ice cream smothered in a trio of chocolate, strawberry and pineapple syrups, sprinked with nuts and topped with a cherry on top of a mound of whipped cream.
Truth be told, I don’t think I ever ate a whole banana boat in my life, I’d be lucky if I only got halfway through one. But who cares, I was basking in ice cream overload and I loved it.
However, on some occasions, my mom was in a not so good mood and only gave me a dollar. Drats… Barely enough for just a cone with sprinkles. No three scoops, no chocolate or strawberry syrup, and certainly no whipped cream with a cherry on top.
Disappointing to say the very least. When you’re 9-years old something like this could be very traumatizing.
So anyway, I’d ask the driver for a vanilla cone with sprinkles and a dixie cup for my sister. I’d hand the driver my dollar bill and then watch Mister Softee drive away with its melodic tune fading away with it.
I’d then sit on my stoop enjoying my vanilla cone and thinking, “This ain’t so bad… It’s not as good as a banana boat, but it’s still pretty good.”
That’s exactly how I feel about the news that MLB will unilaterally implement a 60-game season and that there will be a baseball season. (Yeay!!!)
Hey, nobody wanted it to be this way and there’s plenty of lingering resentment between the owners and players, but I don’t really care about that to be perfectly honest.
I’ve been dying to see a real baseball game ever since Dominic Smith blasted that walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the 11th to beat the Braves on the final day of the 2019 season. (Still get goosebumps!!!)
I’m excited about the prospect of seeing the New York Mets take the field and try to win the division no matter if they play 100 games or 75 games or 60 games. I just want to see baseball again in all its glory.
It’s not what I really wanted, obviously we all would’ve loved a much longer season, but I’ll take whatever I can get. I miss the smell and the sounds of the game. I miss the drama and excitement of a pennant race. And I really, really miss Gary Cohen calling a Pete Alonso home run.
I’m ready to move on and shake the dust of this pandemic off of me. I hope you all feel the same way. It’s time to start living… It’s time for some baseball. Bring on the Nationals.
