To my dearest father:

Dad, as you know, the Padres are having their Fan Day on Sunday, April 5, 2009 from noon to 4pm. As you also know, I would really really really like to go. But you have seemed kind of hesitant in making a decision about us going, so I decided to help convince you. 

Wasn’t last year so much fun? We got to see the clubhouse, the dugout, and we even got to walk on the field. You don’t get that opportunity every day!

Let me start off by reminding you that last year we had to pay $5 per ticket. This time, there is no fee to get in, as in, it’s free! Of course, you say that it’s not really free, because we have to pay for gas and parking and time. But just think of the $5 you are saving! If we had to pay to get in, it would be a much more expensive trip!

There will be players and coaches signing autographs at this event. The Padres have a lot of young, upcoming players on the team this year. If I’m able to get their autographs, I promise that if this economic situation gets so bad that we’re desperate for money, I will consider giving up the autogrpahs to sell so we can get some food. Hopefully the economic situation won’t get that bad for a few years, so that these young players are famous by then. (Of course, if the economic situation gets that bad, nobody will be wanting to buy any autographs, but moving on…)

And yes, of course the Fan Fest will be trying to wrestle money from us in other ways. We can eat before so we don’t have to buy any food. And we don’t even have to go into the Padres’ Annual Garage Sale with game-used jerseys and batting helmets, even though the proceeds benefit the Padres Foundation for Children. I have enough Padres shirts. So, we can avoid those “tourist traps” at all costs.

This year, we would get to watch a special team workout. The players will be getting in last-minute shape for Opening Day, which will be the next day. I mean, how often do you get a chance to watch the players workout? Hey – maybe you can get some ideas to help condition my brothers better for baseball this year!

How long has it been since I was at the ballpark? Let’s see…about seven months! After that long, hard offseason, I think I need to get out the ballpark, see the new players on this team, and talk with other baseball fans. It’s been so long since I’ve been out to the ballpark, and I think I need to get out there to renew my hope for our Padres. I’ve been sitting here all offseason blogging about these Padres. I think it’s time to go to the scene, to get the scoop live. Plus, I need to interact with other baseball fans. Another Padres blogger here, Hyun Young, is going. It would be really neat to meet her and talk about our Padres! 

Of course, all my friends here at the blogosphere would love for me to go, too. We all pull for each other in stuff like this, and they all know how much I suffered in the offseason. I know they would love to see pictures and hear how my Padres are doing. Check out this great support I’ve recieved:

• I hope you get to fanfest! – Julia
• I hope you get to Fanfest! – Melissa (wow, Julia and Melissa are thinking the same thing!)
• I hope you get to go to Fanfest, Kaybee. I bet you will. Then you’ll have great pix and posts to share with us! – Jane
• Hope you have fun at the fanfest! – Bob (that’s the spirit, Bob!)
• The fanfest sounds delightfully fun. Convince your parents, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the 2009 Padres in person! – Caroline
• I’m sure Fan Day would be a lot of fun! – Sue
• Hopefully you can get to Fan day, I’m sure you’d have a ton of fun. – Canuck
• I hope you can go Kaybee! – Julia
• I really hope you can go the Fan Fest! It would be great to meet you in person. – Hyun Young
• I hope you get to go. There’s nothing like meeting players and hanging out with baseball fans. – Jen 

           And Dad, if you say no, I’ll be OK with that. Of course, I will be disappointed, and maybe a little upset, but whatever you say goes. I know the timing is a little inconvenient because it’s a Sunday and the first one of the month at that. I understand if you feel that we should be sticking around at church to help out. Of course, we could get there a little late. We don’t need to be there right at 12. But if you say no, let’s just plan early for next year’s fan fest.

It just seem like a waste of a great opportunity. I mean, autographs, getting close to the players, having fun with other Padres fans, heading out to Petco Park. FREE! It would be so much fun! But as I said, it’s not the end of the world of you say no.

Please, Daddy?

Oh, and Dad – the Fan Day is in two weeks. We don’t have much time left to decide!

I love you! Your dear doting darling daughter,

Kaybee

(photo credits: tree hugger.com, istockphoto.com)