Viewing party

Dodgers Viewing Party - My car

is third from the right, front row.

By Ed Piper

Monday, October 12 was a grueling day. I looked at my car panel, with the thermometer reading 93 degrees as I tried to doze while letting the engine run. My location: on the street near Elysian Park, just down the road from Dodger Stadium.

I went solo--wanting further "postseason experiences" (see previous entry)--in joining the Dodgers Viewing Party in the stadium parking lot.

I got in line at 3:30 for a 4 p.m. entry. (Game at 5:08 p.m.) We trundled in, the temperature still 93. I was directed to park in the front row, seventh or eighth car down, in front of the giant screen erected for NLCS game 1 between L.A. and the Braves.

What was fun, though contact was restricted due to COVID, was honking our horns each time a Dodger did something positive.

I got out of the car to go to the Port-a-Potties along the left side of the parking lot. That was it. The rest of the three-hour, 25-minute game, I was confined to quarters inside my 2008 Toyota Camry.

Neck kink was courtesy the Dodgers, as I found the rear view mirror was right in the way of my (tall) viewing angle from the driver's seat to the big screen. Three hours of that will do it to you.

Another band of gypsies parked on the opposite side of our screen, facing us and a second screen that was set up.

The Dodgers disappointed us, after carrying through to the ninth inning tied 1-1 with Atlanta. The Braves broke loose for four runs in the ninth, sending us home (115 miles for me) with a 5-1 loss in the opener.