By Cassidy Dover: "Off Season: Week 1"

Week one of the off - season is behind us...

Wow.  I can't believe how time flies!  I guess we are actually in week 2 of the off-season, but week one didn't count because our family was travelling and still apart for some of it.  The day Ray came home was fun. I got Sheridan all ready and took her to the airport with me.  In general we wait at the "cell phone lot" and wait for friends and family to call.  Sheridan was way to excited and so we parked the car and went inside the terminal.

As Ray walked out, you would have thought Sheridan hadn't seen her daddy for the entire length of the season, not just two days.  She jumped up and ran into his arms.  He hugged her and carried her downstairs and they chatted on and on.

As Ray's bags came around the carousel I took them off for him.  Then he took one bag, I took the other and Sheridan his carry on.  As we went to the car I realized just how little I mattered at that moment to Sheridan.  I was a chauffeur.  My job, in her eyes, now done.  Her daddy was home and she was thrilled!

We went to lunch, she sat with her daddy.  We went home and I decided to go upstairs and take a nap.  I earned it over the past 7 or 8 months after all.  When I came downstairs I think Ray and Sheridan had taken out every toy I don't like.  There were beads all over the floor.  There were Shrinky Dinks thrown around the table, half colored.  Somehow the two of them had even found my stash of gifts I buy for friend's birthday parties and keep hidden in the closet.

"She doesn't want to stop, does she?" Ray asked me.

"Well, she had an audience she could take hold of," I told him. 

I was trying too hard to hold back my anger and frustration.  He had done a great job keeping her entertained, and the toys were her favorites if only because they were rarely played with.  I looked in disbelief around our family room at the mess created in just one short hour.  It seemed inconceivable!

I have a rule, one toy out at a time.  We must clean up one before the next is taken out and played with. Fast Forward - the toys are still out in my family room.  The playroom looks like a toy store on Christmas Eve with things thrown everywhere! 

The third day Ray was home, I lost it.  His suitcases were out and his wires from his Play Station and computers were everywhere.  There were toys thrown around and laundry that needed to be done.  "I am not housekeeping.  You cannot dial 7 and ask for your mess to be
cleaned.  Stop taking advantage of me!" I yelled.  Then I grabbed Sheridan and took her to her karate class.

When we got home Ray had put his clothes away (OK, in the laundry room but that's progress!), his suitcase was gone and his wires were in a bag.  Sheridan's toys - still out.  But hey, no one is perfect!

Today was Recycling Day.  Last night, while our family took a walk, I said, "Ray, you want to get that bin out tonight.  The truck comes at the crack of dawn!"  I went to bed figuring things would be taken care of. 

When I woke up the next morning (at 5:30 am) I moved to the guest room.  At around 6:15 Sheridan and Ray brought me breakfast in bed!  So sweet!  We all sat in the bed and ate and watched some TV together.  Then we headed downstairs to start at our day. 

At right around 7 am Ray said, "Hey is that the recycling truck?"

"Yeah.  I told you last night it comes early."

"Hold on!" Ray said and pushed past me and out the door.  He started waving at the truck driver, who had passed our house where there was no recycling bin outside.

"Ray, I told you last night to put it out because they come so early!" 

"Yes, but you went to bed at 10 pm and expected me to clean up down here, put stuff away, fold laundry and put out the recycling?  I forgot to do it!"

"Ray, I've been doing all that every day for 8 months" I told him.

"Yeah, but you have it down to a routine!  You know what each thing is!  I didn't get it done!" He was yelling at me.

""Ray, it's no big deal.  They'll come next week" I said laughing.

"The bin is full!  We needed to have it out!  I can't believe I didn't do it!" he said.  Then the truth came out.  "I'm sorry I yelled at you.  I wasn't yelling at you, I was yelling at me! I was mad at myself that I was trying to do everything you said you wanted me to do and I couldn't get it done.  I'm sorry."

Wow.  Not only did Ray apologize to me, but he admitted to having read something I wrote!  How else would he have known that I wanted him to put away his bags, to help with the laundry, to clean up around the house and remember which day was for recycling?  I was very impressed.

I accepted his apology.  I also smiled knowing that what I have been doing day in and day out, Ray can't do on his own.  But that's OK because as everyone knows, I can't throw a baseball for a living, either!

We all have our individual talents, don't we.

Thanks for reading!
Cassidy

Cassidy Dover has been a baseball wife for more than 10 years.  Her husband Ray, currently in the minor leagues, has spent part of 7 seaons in The Show.  Cassidy lives somewhere in America with her daughter Sheridan.  Right now, they're probably waiting for Ray to come home.