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I’m trying not to use photos from my back yard, but it’s such a difficult temptation to avoid. I just took this picture. How could I not share what I am enjoying at the moment?

While I enjoy the beauty of the sunset, I also am enjoying the sheer pleasure of listening to a professional baseball game. My beloved Cardinals are in front of the Cleveland INDIANS (I refuse to refer to them as the Guardians) 4-0 in the bottom of the seventh. The Cardinals’ ace, Sonny Gray, just struck out his tenth of the game. He’s pitching a one hit gem. Baseball has always been a love of mine, whether as a fan or as a participant, and a game on the radio/phone adds to the evening’s relaxation.

The sun is highlighting the outline of the honey locust at the back of my lot. It’s simple, but so sublime. I am already in deep admiration of the freshly mowed lawn, an obsession of mine. Lisa jokes about how often I mow (2 times a week), but I know she also loves it. Our shared joy over our yard, the plants and trees and flowers, has added to the joy in our relationship.

I frown a bit at the necessity of listening to the game, rather than watching the game. Professional baseball is no longer a game that is America’s game. It’s more about the money, and no longer can a fan be a fan without enduring the expense of being a fan. I live in the Chicago area and the Cubs aren’t on WGN any more. There is no way to enjoy a game without paying. Even listening to the Cardinals costs me, as I pay for the MLB app on my phone (by far the least expensive option to be a fan). At one time, I paid for a MLBtv subscription, but so many games are blacked out that it’s just not worth it. The other way to watch the Cardinals is to subscribe to their service (Marquee sports, I believe), which also requires a streaming service to be able to subscribe. That’s a double punch to the bank account, and too rich for me.

I am a fan, however. I will listen. I still enjoy the game that way, and listening allows me to do other things while I enjoy the game — such as sitting outside in my yard, writing a little blog!