Welcome to the Big Leagues, Brian Barton!

Folks, this one is long. Come back when you have time! OR SIMPLY VIEW THE PHOTO GALLERY NOW

On Memorial Day Saturday, my son and his friends threw a party for their boyhood friend, Brian Barton, who was recently signed to the St. Louis Cardinals. He was in town to play against the Dodgers. We called it the 54/55 Celebration (54 because that is Brian's number and 55 because it happened to be my birthday!). We had it at a big, pretty, empty home owned by a family friend. Thank you, friend! (He's kind of shy.)
My other son is house sitting for him and as an aquatics instructor, he is comfortable relaxing around the pool and jacuzzi, a vision that made Jaaye say "we should have the party here."

So, they organized this "set" and it was great. The young folk from my son's law school, and high school, and Brian's Loyola classmates, teammates, etc were there. They sang me a happy (but off key) birthday song and barbecued, played cards, and all.

We kicked it 'til game time, then went 5 minutes to Dodger Stadium. Rene from our group was featured on the jumbotron and even Brian was called up to pinch hit so we wouldn't have to go without seeing him play. It was exciting even though he struck out. The man who made that special day possible was Sweet Lou Johnson, star of the Negro leagues and later the Dodgers.. We pass his home every morning walking and one day he had his garage door open. At 75, he still works for the Dodgers., He told us he was being honored Saturday by the Dodgers. I said "I'll be there! I will be going to the game." Incredulously, he asked "Did you get your tickets yet?" I said "No, but we need 20." He didn't blink. And he said "Done." So we all got better seats than we would have bought. And we got to see him brought out on the field in a salute.

So, I am home now and just basking in the glow of a day with such a peaceful cooperative flow. My sons and niece and nephew all worked to pull this off.

Today, continuing the nice vibe, as we lounged around killing time til the Lakers, we turned on the Dodger game at 1:10 a.m. and Vin Scully was saying "...and Brian Barton is coming up to bat!" Breathlessly, we watched as Brian came to bat 4 times and scored two runs. The Dodgers won this one, but Brian had a great game. And get this: He is the only African American on the St. Louis Cardinals! Even Joe Torre was on TV talking about how we need more black players. We are avid sports fans but we couldn't even name a current player and it seemed there was only one or two on the Dodgers as well.

Sweet Lou Johnson, Jim Mudcat Grant and Al Downing --African American baseball greats--were all on hand because the Dodgers were celebrating the 1960s. Now that was the baseball I remember!

But Brian is the future. A graduate of the class of 2000 at Westchester High School, he was V.P. of the class when Jaaye was President. He played football and baseball and ran track...all transferable skills he is using today. Although he was drafted by the Dodgers out of High School he chose to attend Loyola Marymount, majoring in aerospace engineering then left to attend University of Miami because LMU did not have a class Brian needed, and played minor league baseball for some years.

During the celebration program, Jaaye remembered the morning Brian's early morning text message woke him up. It said simply "I made it!" And from then his biggest cheerleaders have been Jaaye and Kenyon who flew up to see him play in San Francisco, drove to San Diego, and saw all three games in Los Angeles.

But I want to leave you with this: When the boys were in high school, Kenyon, Jaaye and Brian were selected to go to Boys' State, a prestigious gathering of student leaders around the states. The winner of the Boys State would go on to Boys Nation. They all just knew Kenyon had a great chance of winning, especially since the other boys all fed back that he was he was the best orator. But, these three boys were African American and many of the rest were not. Kenyon won the straw poll but lost the actual vote. These high achievers were devastated. Together, they got their first real taste of the real world. And that was an education they could not pay for.

Shaken, but not broken, they continued on their paths hurdling obstacles along the way. For them, Brian's perseverance of years of minor league play and finally making it to the major league is an indication of great things to come for all of them. They are inspired, and me at 55, well, I am inspired about my future, too.

To see the photos from the party and the game, click here:
http://www.theprperson.smugmug.com/gallery/5019553_KL6Y4/1/301331957_pjk5j#301331957_pjk5j
P.S. Special thanks to So Lynn, for your hard work; Aunt Bea, Auntie Joanne and Ms. Rene for tables and grills and things; and Tianna, Kim and Brittany for your big assists. Kenyon, you still got it and thanks for that thoughtful gift and thanks to Kwaku who barbecued up a storm!