Community Update

Oh Baby!

Watching
the recent baseball All Star Game and other sporting events on television
reveals that some parents are bringing their young offspring, babies less than
six months old, to these games.  And if
you have been to an outdoor concert, an indoor recital or play or a late night
movie you will sometimes be sitting next to a months old baby who is crying,
babbling, squirming, or up chucking. 
That doesn’t even take into consideration that the newborn has just
filled his or her diaper and the odor is now permeating the area – ugh!

Bringing
babies to sporting events is not only disconcerting to fans who paid a sizeable
amount for their seat but it is not healthy for the baby.  There are ear piercing yells and screams and
shouts at most events.  And let’s not
forget the germs that may be running rampant in the seats and on the floor of
the venue.  Obnoxious drunken fans are
also in attendance!  And the baby gets
all this without even having to pay for a seat!

Now before
you chastise me for being anti-children, we have three children of our own and eleven
grandchildren.  We had the common
courtesy to refrain from bringing our children to sporting events and concerts
and recitals and movies when they were only months old.  And we waited until they were potty trained
before even considering making an appearance at such an event.  Our children have adhered to the same routine
when raising their children.  It just
makes sense.

Not long
ago we were at a four hour recital for one of our granddaughters in another
distant town who happened to be in multiple acts of the event.  We paid for our ticket and had the misfortune
of sitting in front of a lady who had brought her months old baby.  Little Aspirilla immediately filled her
diaper and then proceeded to whine and cry and cackle.  I tolerated this behavior for about thirty minutes
and then turned to the lady and said: “Hey, when I drove 600 miles and paid for
this seat I did not contemplate having to listen to your baby crying.  So take her out and get a babysitter!”  The lady retorted with: “Well, I never!”  To which I said:  “Well, neither have I!”  She huffed and then left.  Was I rude? 
I think not.

So if you
see me at a sporting event, an outdoor concert, a late night movie, or an
indoor concert, and you have Little Casper in tow, you may want to ask for
another seat unless he has been potty trained, enjoys loud noises and foul
smells.  Absent those likes you will be
subjected to my totally politically incorrect comments!  Now where’s my popcorn?

Bill Kalmar