Simone arranged to have her baby shower on October 14, six weeks early, so we could enjoy it while we were in Pittsburgh; the event to share advice and bring gifts is ordinarily a month before due date, in her case December 29th. Though there are different styles for the get-together, Simone decided hers would be for women only. I therefore, was welcome only to say hello at the conclusion.
Leona and I were picked up by Simone in the late morning and brought to their home in Ambridge. From there, we were driven to Harry and MC's home where the party was organized; Renna had gone early to help set up. We dropped Leona off and picked up Harry to have lunch in a tavern in Ambridge. While we were there, we watched a Pitt football game on the big screens and chatted.
The topic of discussion was baseball. I knew Vern Law, Danny Murtaugh, Bill Mazeroski, Bill Vernon, Roberto Clemente and others from my Topps Baseball Card Collection. Harry was impressed. I told him I liked the '61 Pirates because they beat the hated Yankees in the World Series. Ted and His dad chatted about football and hockey. I had given Ted a set of playing cards from the Heinz History museum with Penguin heroes but I knew none of them. Harry told me the story of Joe Namath, a famous New York Jet football player, a local from Beaver Falls, was admired by his female neighbors when he was a teenager; MC was one of them. 
When it was time, the three of us men drove back to the ladies at the baby shower. As prescribed, we said hello towards the end. The party was beautiful with decorations and a buffet of delicious cold cuts and salads. MC revealed a beautiful Sesame Street baby blanket she had crocheted. I chatted with Ted's aunt and Simone's colleagues including one woman from Taiwan.I used the precious info about Namath to start a conversation with MC related to how my sister worked at a shop next to Bachelors Three, Namath's club in Manhattan, and got goosebumps when he passed by the store. She grinned. 
When we were leaving, I was impressed to see my old 2004 Matrix still roadworthy with Renna behind the wheel. Leona would stay with Simone, Jaisy and Lucy and be driven back to the airbnb. Harry stayed home as Ted drove me back to their home to rest a bit before the main event: A Penguin hockey game.
The crowd at the hockey game was relatively calm although the Penguins won 4-3; it was too quiet for a team that had just won back-to-back Stanley Cups. We had a beer and some food and watched the LED television visuals, but it seemed so contrived and cheesy I couldn't get into it. The game itself was fun and exciting. Occasionally Ted and I chatted or I asked him a question about the rules but I don't think he ever saw me so quiet; I was paying attention to the game. 
When Ted drove me back to the airbnb, I was tired from a busy day and a long walk up a hilly street to get the car. I fell asleep in bed and didn't wake up until Leona called me at 9 am. On Sunday morning, I was still buzzing from the crowd and had to ask my Wobbly friends, Ken and Marc, a few times to remind me what I was talking about. After a mug of coffee, I connected every thread.
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