Juju Innings
A balmy mid-October evening lures me to the patio to watch the play-by-play of the final game in the National League baseball playoffs. I am keeping track of the contest on my cell phone since I can’t tune in on Southern radio stations and don’t subscribe to any paid sports telecasts. The game is in Philadelphia, which is ninety minutes from my hometown, and I want to find out if the Phillies will clinch the title and advance to the 2023 World Series.
I grew up a Phillies fan because my father was a Phillies fan. He instilled in me a love for baseball that I never lost even as my children gravitated towards basketball because that is what their daddy played and taught them. They became Philadelphia Eagles fans and then Chicago Bulls fans after our family moved to the Midwest but continued to support the Phillies because that is who their mama cheered for.
Top of the first inning: Arizona Diamondbacks score a run and it’s 1-0
The sky is pitch black now, as it has been since sundown at 6:46 PM. The writing app I open has gone into dark mode causing my words to turn white and the background black. I flip back and forth from the Web to the app, checking the score and then adding another paragraph.
My husband jokes that if the Phillies lose tonight, it is because of my bad “juju.” He razzes me and tells me my emotionally sour mood this morning may cause my beloved Phillies to lose. I shake my head and shoot him a look that says, “You’re crazy,” but I am not pleased with how this game has started and do not let on that I am a little uneasy.
Two innings finished: a Phillies home run with no one on base ties the score at 1-1
A quick internet search reveals that a 216-pound wide receiver nicknamed JuJu plays for the New England Patriots. I type “juju def” in the search bar to find the Merriam-Webster meaning: “a style of West African music characterized by a rapid beat, with the use of percussion instruments and vocal harmonies.” Not the juju my guy was talking about, nor was he referring to the slang meaning: “a marijuana cigarette; a joint.”
Instead, his quip pertains to a supernatural power attributed to a charm or amulet, “a type of spiritual magic that can be used for benevolent or nefarious purposes.” I may have certain powers of persuasion, but using magic to affect sports results is not one of them. Currently, the only charm I possess is a smile and I use that charm to ask for a glass of wine.
After four full innings: a walk and a double make the score 2-1, Phillies
Middle of the fifth: Diamondbacks scored two more runs and now they are ahead 3-2
During commercial breaks, I click on a link that describes how to create good juju. According to New Age publishers Llewellyn Worldwide, good juju exists within and without. It is a smile freely given to a stranger, a helping hand to a child, aid to a person in need, or an act of random kindness.
Good juju includes forgiveness, tolerance, acceptance, and higher ideals continually striven for, even if it takes you a lifetime to reach them. I try every day but this morning I was NOT in the mood. Still, there is no way my juju, my spiritual energy extends to the Phillies.
Seven and a half innings: Diamondbacks are ahead 4-2 after scoring another run in the top of the seventh inning
My wine glass is empty, so I head inside for a quick shower during the seventh-inning stretch. Refreshed and nervous, I tune back in, remaining doubtful of this juju business. I have been denying it all night and still insist that there is no such thing as negative karmic consequences of an action or behavior.
Final score: Arizona Diamondbacks 4, Phillies 2
“Bummer — double bummer.” These are the three words I text one of my boys who has gone rogue since moving to central Georgia and now cheers for an Atlanta team. Then I added “Next year?”
Typical me… acting hopeful even when defeated. If I choose to practice juju, I resolve to carry a positive magnetic power that creates encouraging vibes. Even when I cry, pout, or act like a brat, I will bounce back and cheer again, because win or lose, I got this!