“Baseball is happiness.” I read this in the biography of the twitter account @_baseballbuddha. I investigated further into the account and noticed, in shock, the amount of followers the account has, 5,000. Who is this “Baseball Buddha” and why do they have so many followers? Well @_baseballbuddha goes by the name of John Reimer, or more commonly known to me as Dad. In February 2014, @_baseballbuddha will depart on a daring journey across the United States.  For nine months he will be traveling to every state and observing a new baseball game each day. For nine months, my adventurous, dependable, and optimistic dad will be on an excursion of a life time.

Ever since he was born in (deleted year), John Reimer has maintained an adventurous spirit, whether it was hiking through the bluffs of Devils Lake, or traveling to India on a Buddhist retreat. He is always seeking a new place to explore.  His spirit has led him to his newest journey across the nation. John Reimer will be traveling to, and camping in, each state in the U.S. As he explores each state and the culture within, he will also be attending a game of baseball per day, ranging from the major to little leagues. As he explores each state, he will “document the experience day by day, each game, and every moment until the final pitch is thrown and the last out is played.” As he explores each state, he will not only reunite with his love for baseball, but will also fulfill his need for adventure.

Even though my father will be away for nine months, he will maintain his role as the dependable father that I have grown up with. My father has always been the type of person that goes out of his way for others when they are in need of help. I for one have experienced this first hand. On multiple occasions he has altered his schedule, no matter how busy, to be with me in a time of need. He has been there for me through my highs and lows, whether I’ve been good or bad, and always ready to listen. He is always ready with words of wisdom and is dependable whether I want someone to hang out with, or just somebody to listen to me unload. My father is much more than just that to me, he is my best friend, and as he embarks on his journey, I know he will be there for me every step of the way of mine.

No matter what my father experiences during these next few months, I know that he will be looking at every situation with “the glass is half full” perspective. I know this because it is a part of him. He has always viewed things on the brighter side, and no one can ever change that about him. John Reimer is the kind of man that could be on the side of a cliff holding on for dear life and still be thinking “wow, what a nice view.” He’s a person to turn to, regardless of the situation, and regardless of your relationship with him. He is always looking for someone to help, whether it is his daughter, sibling, or just a random civilian on a street. No matter the scenario, he has the ability to show one the positive side and how to grow from it. To top it all off, he will never let one down with his advice. The man is as bright as the sun getting in the eyes of an outfielder trying to catch a fly ball. As my father begins this new chapter in his life, the one thing that I know for certain is that every day, whether it’s rain or shine, he will be sitting in the bleachers somewhere with a pen in his hand and a smile on his face, loving life.

Buddha once said “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” To me, this quote is the perfect explanation for why my father is beginning his journey. My father is a candle, and baseball has lit him ablaze. His ultimate goal over the next few months is to light as many more candles as he can, spreading the joy he experiences from baseball with the world. As his new excursion takes flight across America I’m certain that his adventurous spirit, dependability, and optimism will rub off on the local citizen’s fortunate enough to cross paths with him. Now, as I scroll through my twitter feed each day, I will not only be reading about what’s on my best friend’s mind, or what Kim Kardashian is doing today, but also tracking the progress that has been made by the one and only @_baseballbuddha.

Please leave this field empty

The Baseball Sentinel

Newsletter

Email Address *

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.