Hi all-
I’ve been a little quiet over the past week and I wanted to tell you why. My grandmother passed away on Sunday, and while it was somewhat expected as she had been in poor health all summer, it still knocked the wind out of me. I apologize for not having a chat during Dodgers vs. Giants on Sunday Night Baseball, as I know a lot of you were looking forward to it. I just needed to be with family and process and grieve.
The grieving continues, because I don’t know that it ever really stops when someone who has been a part of your life from the moment you were born is no longer in the world. She lived a wonderful, long life and died peacefully—warm in her bed like she wanted. As hard as death is to process, her merciful transition is what I wish for everyone reading this. But, my mother and my sister and my aunts and my cousins lost our matriarch, and it will be a while before the gravity of that absence sinks in.
I’m doing alright. Baseball has been a welcome distraction. My brain has been a bit mushy and it’s been hard for me to focus to string together sentences. You guys are the best community of people on the Internet, so I know you understand. Thank you to those who have reached out. I love you all.
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I’m also writing you to let you know we’re trying something new this weekend. Albert Pujols is currently sitting at 698 home runs. As you know, only three hitters have ever reached 700 home runs (Barry Bonds, Henry Aaron and Babe Ruth). This is a big f—g deal. Pujols and the Cardinals are coming to Dodger Stadium for a three-game set starting tonight. There’s a possibility he will hit his 700th home run here in Los Angeles, which would be amazing, because if he can’t hit it at home in St. Louis, the next best place is to mark that accomplishment in L.A., where he is loved and adored by Dodger fans for his contributions and the immaculate joyful vibes he contributed to the team last season.
Each Friday night I volunteer at the Hollywood Food Coalition from 5 to 8 pm, helping feed our unhoused neighbors. If Pujols hits home run #699 while I am working tonight, I will leave after my shift and head to Dodger Stadium to try to be there in case he hits home run #700. I will also open an Emergency Live Thread from the bleachers so we can hang out together while we wait for history. I’m going to be taking audio and video of the crowd as they try to catch a home run ball worth more than probably the median house in Los Angeles. I’ll also be at the games on Saturday and Sunday, and we’ll do some live threads to celebrate his chase (if he’s on 699).
We’ve also got Aaron Judge trying to hit his 61st homer off the season tonight, so, yeah. A LOT Is happening right now. Expect multiple discussion threads this weekend. As a reminder, to participate in these chats with me and the rest our of community, you’ll need to sign up to become a paid subscriber. We’re going to be chatting every day during playoff games in October, so you may as well sign up now so you don’t miss out on that, either. I cannot tell you how much your support has meant to me during this, the most challenging year of my life. Come join us. I promise we have fun!
That’s all for now. I’ll be back (as soon as tonight) if Albert cooperates. Have a great weekend, everyone!
You have had to endure so much in just these past few months. I’m so sorry for your loss and hope you can find some moments of wonderful baseball joy this weekend.
Molly. I am so sorry for your loss. My mother passed away last week, unexpectedly. Right now I find myself in a fog of grief, totally untethered. It’s surreal. I think I’m okay and then someone will send me a text or eMail and I’ll just be a lost puddle again. As someone Jewish, we’re big believers that it takes a week to even BEGIN to function in the real world again. I feel that. So, cut yourself a break and know that it takes a while to be able to re-enter the real world and operate at your usual capacity. As an avid reader and lover of your work, fear not, we are always here when you return.