On Wednesday, July 9, I looked at my calendar to see what activities I had in store for that particular day. I saw nothing! Nada! Zilch! Zero! Gar Nichts! Nothing!

As a retired person this situation is a rarity. Usually I have a morning tennis game or I am taking a course at the Jericho Library or meeting someone for lunch. Again, nothing!

I looked at Newsday Sports Section for something to watch on TV. Maybe I could get through the day watching television sports. It is really not a great way to spend the day.

Eureka! I found it!

It was 11 a.m. when I discovered my outlet.

The Brooklyn Cyclones were playing a day game starting at noon. I had to make up my mind in a hurry. It was too late to ask a friend to go along because a) most people have their day already planned, and b) most people are not that spontaneous.

I decided at 11:10 a.m. to go to the game. As I was leaving I asked a friend if he could go now - no delaying. "I'd love to, but I have to pick up a car," was his answer. No surprise there.

My greatest enemy in fulfilling the mission was the dreaded "Belt Parkway." It is either a snap (very seldom) or a huge parking lot. On this day it moved well.

I got off at Coney Island Avenue at 11:45 a.m. I knew I would miss the first inning or two. As I approached Keystone Stadium off the Boardwalk I realized all this tension was making me ravenous. I parked for $4 and immediately ran to a Nathan's Hot Dog stand. The usual - two hot dogs - mustard and sauerkraut - one small Freedom potatoe - one small lemonade for $8.43 my hunger and thirst were quenched.

One block from Nathan's I purchased a ticket for $7. I entered in the bottom of the second inning. I plopped down behind home plate (not my true seat) and watched five innings of wonderful baseball. These kids were really professionals, they turned beautiful double plays, fielded gracefully and hit for power. The side show was nerve-racking to me but the fans enjoyed it. The constant loud noises and the race between mustard, ketchup and relish are too much for me. Maybe I have become an old curmudgeon.

The crowd was a mixture of all of Brooklyn. They enjoyed every pitch and every hit and I enjoyed their enthusiasm.

After the seventh inning stretch I left the ballpark. I was on the Belt Parkway again going East. I was home in Jericho by 3:30 p.m. What a day!

I patted myself on my back for the fact that I had turned a possible boring day into a day full of excitement!