Is our game growing or in decline?

[Judge Jude]

I only skipped one of my 10 nephew/nieces christenings to attend my annual auction.

My sister was totally cool with it, and that was almost 20 years ago. It's not like the kid noticed!

[willthethrill]

My wife is due with our 3rd on March 24th. My solution? Host this year on April 2nd. She knows how much the day means to me, but I also know that I can't do a total boys weekend away for 48 hours this year, so it's a nice compromise.

[Lucky]

I'm with the "go to the auction" crowd. As it has been said, it is one day a year, and it determines what you will be dealing with for the remainder of the season.

Our date is set a year in advance...actually many years, since it is the Saturday after Opening Day. Everyone in my family knows I will be gone that weekend, as I have been (in my present league) for 16 years. If they want to schedule something then (what the hell is a "sweet 16", anyway?), they do so knowing Uncle Luck will be there in spirit only.

Fortunately, I haven't faced death of an immediate family member on that weekend. Obviously, that would take precedence. But, weddings and garden parties will just have to do without me.

On a related note, I'm sorry we won't get to see B-Fly in Dallas this year. He always adds some class to the joint. Birth of a child, though....that's one of those special circumstances.