Empire Up In Smoke

Photo: © Stan B.

I live close to Oracle Stadium, the home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team. It's easy to know when they're in town cause the fans flocking to the stadium are all dressed in orange and black, the official team colors. The amount of team swag is borderline incredulous- adults adorned as if their mothers dressed them for Little League. Every once in a while, I'd walk on down myself (in my civvies) to see if I could possibly get a picture or two amongst the crowds, a goal I've yet to achieve and fortunately never considered seriously. But I digress...

I loved baseball as a kid, but I usually fall asleep by the third inning these days those handful of times I've attempted to watch. Still, I considered going to catch a game this opening season, particularly since my childhood team, the NY Yankees were playing. Figured I'd get a cheap seat in the nosebleed section and hopefully relive and experience some innocent childhood nostalgia. Three figures put that little fantasy to bed- just like $6.50 for a one scoop ice cream cone had me in a U turn out the door at a local ice cream parlor.

Went down to the stadium anyway, again, on the vague promise of a picture, being that it was opening day and all. The crowds were energized and enthusiastic, even on the street, root-root-rooting for the home team. I watched the kayaks floating and bobbing about in McCovey Cove, the mood was festive and upbeat- and then I heard the National Anthem, "the bombs bursting in air!" The irony was tangible, although unnoticed by the celebratory crowd around me, even in this most liberal of cities. My mood changed as I turned to go home only to see two F-14's zooming by overhead- the type of planes that are wrecking death and havoc on many an innocent child and civilian right now. And still, the irony did not register on those around me as they oohed and aahed. It would take actual ordinance raining upon them for that insight. Then I heard an uproar behind me, and saw a truly amazing sight, full of color and splendor and spectacle; the biggest, most brilliant American flag suspended and floating mid air! It-was-spectacular- a truly resplendent sight courtesy of modern technology. And as I raised camera to eye, it dissipated as quickly as it appeared...