Less than 2 weeks to go . . .

Until pitchers and catchers arrive at Scottsdale! I know it's really too early to be talking baseball, but since the novel I've been working on for the better part of the last 3 years has to do with that particular sport . . .

I CAN'T WAIT!!!

I'm really curious to see how the year is going to shape up, especially since I really don't have any expectations about how well or bad the team is going to do. There are just two things I know for sure:

1. Our team is one of the youngest ones we've had since '86 (with the exception of Benji, Dave Roberts, and the newly acquired Randy Johnson).

2. The team is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the '89 team that went to the World Series.

Number 2 is of a particular interest to me because I was there . . . not when the earthquake hit on Oct. 17 (although my in-laws were), but when the Giants beat the Cubbies to take the 5th game of the NLCS to win the pennant. I remember the tension, the throngs of orange/black/cream jerseys, the dull roar of the crowd that made it sound like a jet was hovering right over Candlestick . . . and of course the tears in my Hubby's eyes when they won.

In fact, my ring tone is the play-by-play call made when Will Clark hit a blooper into left field to move us ahead in the 6th inning.

I get the strangest looks when my phone rings! :)

In the very early writing days, about 15 yrs ago, one of the first pieces I wrote was the memory of that day. I wrote it in first person POV about the sounds and feelings I had. Little did I know that piece would be the basis for the novel I now hope to complete by the end of next week.

I first wrote Cat's story in the 3rd person, but thanks to the advice of a wonderful author and writing coach, I chose to rewrite her in her own voice. Telling the reader why she loves baseball so much.

Now, twenty years later, I hope the celebrations surrounding that team will inspire other kids, boys and girls alike, to come to appreciate their own love of the game.