America the Beautiful

Last night I went to the home opener for the Tri-Cities Dust Devils; the minor league single-A team (different and less cool than The A-Team) affiliated with the Colorado Rockies. The baseball wasn't really that great, but it was a fun, festive atmosphere, and there were fireworks after the game. As I gazed into the vast, dark sky at the bright flashes of color, the stadium speakers charmed the spellbound audience with the sweet strains of Ray Charles' rendition of America the Beautiful. You probably remember that version of the famous ballad from the romantic scene in 'The Sandlot,' when the neighborhood friends gather to play a night game with only the light of the fireworks to brighten their diamond; a feat only viable to one still entranced with childlike wonder. I have always thought it would be nearly divine to play midnight baseball in Alaska during the summer solstice. America truly is beautiful.