Hang a Question Mark
"In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted. " ~Bertrand Russell
We went to a Spring Training game on Sunday, the whole family. You could feel the excitement in the air as we got closer to the stadium. Parking was fillling up, people were filling the streets and spring was filling the air. When we got out of our car and headed toward the stadium, the sea of people were anxious to get to the game before it started. It only took one block before we saw people standing with their hands in the air and the number of tickets they needed advertised by the fingers they were holding up. One more block closer to the stadium and the talk of a sold out game could be heard. It began to feel like a frenzy was brewing. This wasn't a good thing for me and my family. Our spring training games aren't known for sellling out, so I didn't buy tickets ahead of the game. I thought it would be a fun Sunday thing to do and that we could pick up tickets before the game began. Vic and I looked at eachother as more and more people began walking back the way we had just come. In preparation for disappointment, I told the kids that we might not get in to this game. I also told them to consider how lucky we were that we live here and would be able to see any of the games in the coming months. We continued toward the stadium. The lines were long for the ticket booth, but we got in one. We weren't standing there a minute when a gentleman in the team colors with an official badge hanging around his neck told everyone in line that the game was sold out. With only minutes until the start of the game, Vic and I decided to take the kids around the side of the stadium so they could at least hear the start of it all and maybe see a little of the field. When we went around, we could see a good bit of the game and all of the stands. As we watched and listened, I couldn't help but notice that not every seat was full. Victoria even asked me why they said every ticket was sold when it was obvious there was space. I chalked this up to the people who were late for the game and she seemed to accept my answer.
I couldn't help but question if the gentleman in the official clothing was really right. In a streak of stubborness, or nonconformity straight out of my teen years, (which used to drive my dad crazy ) I told Vic I would try one more time for tickets. Tori and I set out to the lines at the ticket booth and chose one that was moving pretty quickly. I had to explain to Tori that we were taking a chance to make sure there really weren't any tickets and to expect to walk away without some. I also told her that sometimes what someone tells you isn't exactly the way it is. Tori was excited and I was happy to have her beside me for courage. As stubborn as I can be, I'm never excited about being rejected and the thought of how frustrated I may make the ticket person kept racing through my head.
When we reached the ticket window, a will call window no less, this is how it happened:
Me: "I'm sorry, we don't have tickets, but I'm wondering if there is any way to see if there are some available."
Nice (thank God) Ticket Lady: " I don't think there are any unless they have just come open, but I'll see. How many to do you need?"
Me: "5"
Nice Ticket Lady: "Oh, there is no way we have that many, let me look" (frantic typing behind the glass ensues)
Me: silent
Tori: "Oh I hope, I hope, I hope, I hope....."
Nice Ticket Lady: "There are some, they are in the box, these are really nice tickets, I can't believe it, please don't tell anyone."
Me: "This is why we go to church"
Tori: "Yeay" (starting to jump"
Nice Ticket Lady: (smiling at Tori) "Don't jump up and down until you walk away from the window or we will all have trouble."
Tori: "Okay" (smiling back)
And with that we walked back to the boys, exhilarated by our chance taking. Not only did we have seats, but the best seats just left of our team duggout and at the top of the bottom level. Somehow, someone had reserved exactly 5 seats and then let them go on the internet system at the time we decided to get to the ticket window.
There are times when questioning what we know to be true is healthy. When you question something, with a pure intent on ensuring that it is indeed the truth, you open yourself up to exploring the possiblities. It is amazing how many things we take for granted because they have always been a certain way. I am sure the official man at the game really meant to help everyone by limiting our time waiting in line for tickets that were mostly sold out. Times have changed in the ticket selling arena. With the internet, there are no longer just tickets in the booth. There are tickets in cyberland too that get caught in limbo. That is where we scored our tickets from, with the help of Nice Ticket Lady, a little bit of luck, courage and a big fat question mark.
We went to a Spring Training game on Sunday, the whole family. You could feel the excitement in the air as we got closer to the stadium. Parking was fillling up, people were filling the streets and spring was filling the air. When we got out of our car and headed toward the stadium, the sea of people were anxious to get to the game before it started. It only took one block before we saw people standing with their hands in the air and the number of tickets they needed advertised by the fingers they were holding up. One more block closer to the stadium and the talk of a sold out game could be heard. It began to feel like a frenzy was brewing. This wasn't a good thing for me and my family. Our spring training games aren't known for sellling out, so I didn't buy tickets ahead of the game. I thought it would be a fun Sunday thing to do and that we could pick up tickets before the game began. Vic and I looked at eachother as more and more people began walking back the way we had just come. In preparation for disappointment, I told the kids that we might not get in to this game. I also told them to consider how lucky we were that we live here and would be able to see any of the games in the coming months. We continued toward the stadium. The lines were long for the ticket booth, but we got in one. We weren't standing there a minute when a gentleman in the team colors with an official badge hanging around his neck told everyone in line that the game was sold out. With only minutes until the start of the game, Vic and I decided to take the kids around the side of the stadium so they could at least hear the start of it all and maybe see a little of the field. When we went around, we could see a good bit of the game and all of the stands. As we watched and listened, I couldn't help but notice that not every seat was full. Victoria even asked me why they said every ticket was sold when it was obvious there was space. I chalked this up to the people who were late for the game and she seemed to accept my answer.
I couldn't help but question if the gentleman in the official clothing was really right. In a streak of stubborness, or nonconformity straight out of my teen years, (which used to drive my dad crazy ) I told Vic I would try one more time for tickets. Tori and I set out to the lines at the ticket booth and chose one that was moving pretty quickly. I had to explain to Tori that we were taking a chance to make sure there really weren't any tickets and to expect to walk away without some. I also told her that sometimes what someone tells you isn't exactly the way it is. Tori was excited and I was happy to have her beside me for courage. As stubborn as I can be, I'm never excited about being rejected and the thought of how frustrated I may make the ticket person kept racing through my head.
When we reached the ticket window, a will call window no less, this is how it happened:
Me: "I'm sorry, we don't have tickets, but I'm wondering if there is any way to see if there are some available."
Nice (thank God) Ticket Lady: " I don't think there are any unless they have just come open, but I'll see. How many to do you need?"
Me: "5"
Nice Ticket Lady: "Oh, there is no way we have that many, let me look" (frantic typing behind the glass ensues)
Me: silent
Tori: "Oh I hope, I hope, I hope, I hope....."
Nice Ticket Lady: "There are some, they are in the box, these are really nice tickets, I can't believe it, please don't tell anyone."
Me: "This is why we go to church"
Tori: "Yeay" (starting to jump"
Nice Ticket Lady: (smiling at Tori) "Don't jump up and down until you walk away from the window or we will all have trouble."
Tori: "Okay" (smiling back)
And with that we walked back to the boys, exhilarated by our chance taking. Not only did we have seats, but the best seats just left of our team duggout and at the top of the bottom level. Somehow, someone had reserved exactly 5 seats and then let them go on the internet system at the time we decided to get to the ticket window.
There are times when questioning what we know to be true is healthy. When you question something, with a pure intent on ensuring that it is indeed the truth, you open yourself up to exploring the possiblities. It is amazing how many things we take for granted because they have always been a certain way. I am sure the official man at the game really meant to help everyone by limiting our time waiting in line for tickets that were mostly sold out. Times have changed in the ticket selling arena. With the internet, there are no longer just tickets in the booth. There are tickets in cyberland too that get caught in limbo. That is where we scored our tickets from, with the help of Nice Ticket Lady, a little bit of luck, courage and a big fat question mark.
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