A Traditional Summer

I wanted to write a post on June 10th. Titled "Alexander 23." It's a band. That in my eyes is growing rapidly and has incredible musicianship and stage presence. So much so that they were on a massive stage at Governor's Ball. On Friday, June 9th. At 2:30. I told myself work can wait for a few hours and on that day, support of a friend was more important than one buyer call.

Tyler was on the drums. His fiancé was in the crowd, and our other friend Trader (and his wife) were in town for the weekend. It was cloudy and sunny and beautiful, and the crowd only continued to grow as the music started and continued. It was the second time I had seen them (first time at Webster Hall) so I was humming and singing along to the music. Genre - hip hop punk rock.

I didn't write that post. It would have been good, and I would have spent at least a paragraph explaining in excruciating detail each bite of leftover fried rice I ate at Chinese Tuxedo. We met up with the 'band and crew' and the lead singer himself tossed over the extra plate - "Tringali - here, try it." I tried one bite and the rest was history. It was a special day and special night and I did some personal journaling that revolved around bonds, disconnecting, and making tough decisions.

So flash forward 11 days and all we have is a mind that is finally relaxed after losing in a playoff rec league game. You can't mimic a competitive game. The cutting, the sprinting, the jumping, the sweat. The feelings of a loss. Endorphins are for sure real - and whatever chemicals are created from busting your ass allow you to feel better. And write. And forget about work for a minute to book baseball tickets for your very good friend's bachelor party.

For a baseball game. The sport that inspired the title. We are back on a normal cadence. No NBA Finals in October or French Open in July. All we have from June 12th to September 10th is baseball. And Wimbledon (without Federer or Nadal - true deeply sad face but Sinner is an Italian delight). So you turn on the TV - you get baseball. You watch Top 10 Sportscenter (people still watch Sportscenter right?). You get baseball plays. And you know what - maybe I'm getting older and finding an appreciation for the sport, maybe it is the pace, but for the first time in a long time, it feels like the old days. When I would complain to my dad and my friends - "all that is on is baseball."

As baseball squarely fits the theme of a traditional summer, so will summer vacations (that are newly planned and not "made up" for cancelled plans) and summer fun and summer camps and all that jazz. I'm going on summer vacation. Fuck it. I'm going with just about every member of my wife's family and I can't wait. Last time I was in Cascais I was with three guys and I remember thinking it would be great to bring a girl here one day - July 3rd, giddy up.

I feel like I want to raise a glass to the few readers that will get to this point and say "have a great traditional summer." So, cheers.