For some reason, when Joe Nathan strides up to the pitcher's mound to close a Twins game, I miss my Nathan just a little bit more. I cheer for Joe as if I were cheering for my dear husband. There is something about seeing NATHAN written across his back that draws me to him. Every bad pitch he throws makes me feel for him and every success he has gives me a little personal pride. Joe closed the game tonight. We beat Milwaukee 10-7. Despite this being the 16th win in the last 17 games, I left feeling very melancholy. I want Nathan back, my Nathan, not Joe.
In the sixth inning, a guy sitting in the seats right in front of the suite we were in caught a foul ball. He gripped it tightly and thrust his arm into the air with a giant smile on his face. Then he turned to his girlfriend and gave her a giant victory hug and a sweet kiss. Later in the game I saw him explaining something to her while pointing to the screen displaying the stats of the next guy at bat. She looked at him attentively and seemed to really desire to know more about this game he clearly loves. For them, all is right with the world. They caught a foul ball hit by Twins superstar Torii Hunter. They will probably remember this night for the rest of their lives.
Being the spectator of a moment in progress for a lovely young couple is one of the hardest things about deployment. While the rest of the world continues and couples everywhere share moments that they will carry with them for the rest of time, I wait. Nathan had a saying engraved on a dog tag for me before he left, before we got married even. "We don't remember days; We remember moments." The foul ball couple will remember tonight's moment. The couples who shared a moment with the Kiss Cam will remember. Couples who watched early fireworks snuggled up on this perfectly warm night will remember. I will wait.
On this night of Joe Nathan pitching and another win and many moments to be remembered, I thank God that He knows more than I do, that He is bigger than this wait, than Iraq. I thank Him for giving us another day and I pray that His angels will surround Nathan and return him to me in one solid, beautiful piece. I thank God that we have the moments we have and I pray that we will have many more moments to remember. Tonight, I thank God for Nathan, my soldier, my heart, my best friend, and for Nathan, my closer, the one who pitches a mighty fine ninth inning.
