When Pitchers and Catchers report?  Nah, too standard.

When Eleanor Roosevelt throws out the first pitch of the regular season?  Nah, she’s not even technically alive.

The first Grapefruit League game when the Phillies play the overlooked Central Florida Firecats?  Um, maybe.

For me, it starts at a different time every year.  Sometimes, when I least expect it. Often it has to do with Giant’s broadcaster ace Jon Miller. Something about his voices says BASEBALL and SPRING at the same time.

When my plane touched down in Phoenix I knew it would be happening soon, but it hadn’t happened yet.  Baseball was running late, like an Uber driver with a questionable profile photo.  We were already one week into spring training and Baseball had yet to really start for me.

Though the first ticket I bought was for the Giants/Reds matchup, I got in early enough to squeeze in a Cubs/Dodgers match down in Mesa at way-too-nice-but-I-like-it-anyway Sloan Park.

Sloan Park was completely full and Clayton Kershaw was pitching for the Dodgers. The sun was out, people were lighter, the wind was blowing a bit, and there beer was for sale.  The women selling the beer were enthusiastic though dressed  conservatively so not to offend anyone.

I found some garlic hummus and got situated in the berm.  Garlic hummus?  Yes, these miracles continue to find me.

Everyone around me was smiling, sun kissed and happy. If these people came to the park with any pain, I saw no trace of it. I laid back in the grass and looked at the blue sky, then said a silent I Am So Sorry for everyone living below 40 degrees fahrenheit.

After the rather terse singing of the anthem we all perked up as the announcer excitedly let us know the Cubs were taking the field. Cue The Who’s Baba O’Riley, one of the greatest non-national anthems every conceived.  Out run the Cubs! They look thrilled to be there despite what the goat has told them! Hats are waved, whooping Begins!

OUT HERE IN THE FIELDS…..

It was all too perfect, even if it only lasted for a second.  I got instant chill bumps and felt like a human helium balloon about to lift off.  And maybe it was the desert pollen, but something was messing with my ducts a wee bit.

And so it begins.