For a while last night I was convinced the cosmos was in some way opposed to the FBR seeing 4th of July fireworks this year. Our first attempt was canceled due to weather and I thought we were all set last night as we confidently strode into Polar Park to watch a Worcester Red Sox game to be followed by fireworks. Literally three minutes after we entered, the FBR came walking slowly back from the centerfield playground where she had run over to play as soon as we walked in. She pointed to a seemingly small cut on the underside of her chin. She had slipped and fallen on her first playground apparatus. I thought it was a minor cut but my Favorite Panamanian got a better look at it and immediately headed over to the nearby security folks.
They summoned a paramedic who appeared
quickly and examined at the cut, which was a lot deeper than I thought. The FBR
was quite stoic, without a tear, up to the point the paramedic advised us we
needed to take the FBR to see a doctor because she probably needed stiches. As
soon as the FBR heard that, she dissolved, disconsolate at that impending procedure.
I figured our night was over as we headed back out the gate as the WooSox
normally don’t allow reentry. As we were leaving one of the gate personnel came
over and told me if we did come back, to find him and he would escort us back
into the game. We drove over to the nearby urgent care clinic and, since it was
the 4th of July, there was no waiting which surprised me. Wingman sent
us a copy of their insurance card and after a couple tear laden FaceTime calls
with her parents, we were accompanying the FBR into the treatment room. 
FBR With the Paramedic
The doctor confirmed the FBR would require
stiches which set off another crying jag which tore at my heart to the point I
almost joined her. I summoned as much strength as I could as I tried to tell
her they would make every effort to keep it as painless as possible. She was
truly terrified of the concept of stitches (she is seven years old, so
understandable). My Favorite Panamanian came up with the idea of having her
watch funny cat videos on my iPhone while the procedure took place. They packed
the wound with some deadening cream which helped with the injection of the pain
killing drug into the wound. I then held the phone above her face while she
received six stiches, once again in full stoic mode, so brave. I’m never queasy
when I’ve received stiches bit it was incredibly tough watching them sew up the
FBR’s chin.
Awaiting her Stitches
Once it was over, she was back to being
the bright, bubbly granddaughter and asked how long it would take to get back
to the game. We returned and although the parking lot had a sign out that it
was full, I explained to the attendant what happened and he allowed us to reenter
without paying again. As we walked up to the gate, the guy I spoke with as we
were leaving spotted us, and escorted us through the gate. A guy in a golf cart
asked what was going on and when informed, aided (more on him later). We made a
bee line for a very late dinner of ballpark franks and I was then summarily
sent in search of cotton candy for both of my female companions. I then spent
some time refereeing the consumption of that sweet delicacy while trying to
keep an eye on the game. We got back in time for the bottom of the sixth
inning. We had only standing room tickets so we ended up in one of the concession
tables behind home plate where the FBR narrated the remainder of the game for
me. She’s a fan. She was enthralled with the rendition of Sweet Caroline and
the between innings promotions minor league baseball excels in. She was
completely recovered, spirit wise from her earlier debacle.
All Stitched Up
After the Sox won handily, with the FBR
expressing her loud approval, we looked around for the best place to watch the
fireworks. My Favorite Panamanian, ever the social champion, went down into the
stands and asked a lady if she would move over one seat so there would be two seats
for us, one for her and one for me/FBR. The FBR was new to fireworks since her
bedtimes had always worked against seeing them. In Grandparent Land, no such problem.
She was completely captured with the display with almost continual “Oohs and “Ahhs”
and delighted applause. She was literally bouncing as we departed despite being
up a full two and a half hours after her usual bedtime (something she kept
reminding us about). 
Back at the Ballpark
After we got home and successfully got the
still very excited FBR into the sack, I sent a late night email to the president
of the WooSox (found his email address online) thanking him for the professionalism
and assistance of his personnel earlier in the night. I didn’t think I’d ever
get a response. I just wanted the powers to be to know their people had made a
tough situation much easier. In a huge surprise, I got an answer back asking
how the FBR was feeling and inviting us to another game as their guests. I received
another remail this morning from the guy in the golf cart, who turned out to be
a vice president of the Woo Sox. We’re now getting three tickets to the WooSox
game on Friday which also includes another fireworks display afterwards. Classy
organization.
Referee Time
Awaiting Fireworks 
Entranced
One movie fell in my A-Z watch, a
marginal keeper, Dumb and Dumber To, not as many laughs, flatulent cat was
funny, the rest, not so much, probably wouldn’t keep it except it’s a sequel
Night Completely Turned Around
RECURRING CHARACTERS:
ABFA – Amazing Best Family
Athlete - my daughter
in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter
#3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel -
second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue
about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut
Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor
of the big river; Curbside Girls – close
friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which
grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of
course); FBR - First Blog Reader -
first granddaughter; First Friday –
celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene
Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene,
NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend
since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife –
her US sisters, my wife is the 3rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew –
son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia
member; PanaGals – female relatives /friends
of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin
Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we
have lived & their spouses; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high
school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the
Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather -
my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course
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