The Governor's Nuts

On Thursday, Neil, my parents, my grandma and our friends Ryan and Shay went to the season opener at Isotopes Stadium. It's become a tradition in my family to attend the game and Neil even lines up on the day tickets go on sale to get the best seats. This year, we sat behind home plate in row K (I think) The seats were awesome and the game was a lot of fun. Our team played the Iowa Cubs (a farm team for the Cubs) and their pitcher was an injured Cubs pitcher so everyone was very excited about that. We beat them despite their Major League talent which was even better than having Major League talent in our stadium.

Some time during the fourth or fifth inning, Neil and I noticed some official-looking men in suits standing at the top of our section. They all had ear-pieces in like the Secret Service and were milling around in such a way that made it obvious they weren't there for the baseball. The only time I have seen men like that in New Mexico was during the presidential campaign when we had candidates visiting every other minute and, oh wait, every time I see the Governor. That's right, he has a posse and some secrete-service-like guards with him at all times. Sure enough, we turned and looked directly behind us and there was Big Bill, two rows back flanked by some staffers and a mysterious and attractive woman. Moments later the mayor walked over and started schmoozing. Feeling a little bit surrounded by politicians, Neil and I a)couldn't help but to stare a little and b) started squirming in our seats. We whispered to our friends and my family, "Psst... the governor is sitting two rows behind us." Then we went back to watching the game.

About ten minutes later, a lady who works at one of the nut stands in the stadium came over to where the Governor was sitting. She was holding a white paper cone filled with nuts that were giving off a yummy cinnamon aroma. "We'd like to give you this free sample of our new cinnamon roasted almonds," the woman gushed as she extended the large cone that probably cost $10 and was definitely not a sample size. The Governor smiled and thanked her and then Neil yelled out "Hey Governor, you've gotta pass those down here!" It was clearly a joke, but the Governor winked and said "I will in a minute." Then when the nut lady walked away, sure enough, he handed the cone to Neil, who tried to refuse, but the Governor said, "Too late Neil, you opened your mouth."

And that is how we ended up with the Governor's nuts. We spent the next half hour or so passing them around, eating some and laughing like middle schoolers or Beavis and Butthead. "He he, we have the Governor's nuts." or "Ha! I'm eating the Governor's nuts." I am proud to say that everyone joined in this banter, including my grandma.

So thank you Governor Richardson for the tasty Almonds and the laugh. Photo of the leftover nuts to be posted on this blog soon.