It is Opening Night and the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees are playing the first game of the 2010 Major League Baseball season. For the past several years, I have watched the Red Sox opener at Sonny McLean’s and tonight is no different. However, the bar has a new ownership and it has gone through some physical and aesthetic changes. What hasn’t changed is the passion for New England sports exhibited by the people who frequent Sonny’s. One such person was Nora O’Brien.
On Wednesday 29 April 2009, Nora unexpectedly succumbed to a brain aneurysm. It was a shock to learn of her death a few days later. How can life be so fleeting? Although today is not the anniversary of her passing, Hammy (one of her close friends) wanted to have a remembrance of Nora on this baseball night and in this sports place. So, in Nora’s memory, a number of us are gathered around a table in the bar she would still have recognized as “home”.
I am not exactly sure when I first met Nora. I know it was through her great friend Lisa and sometime during the 2004 baseball season. Perhaps on a Sunday morning at Sonny’s watching a Red Sox game or on a bus trip to see them play the Angels. No matter, we met over the love of the Boston Red Sox and that’s all that counts. And that love of team came to fruition on Wednesday 27 October 2004 when the Boston Red Sox became World Series Champions and we were among the numerous people at Sonny McLean’s going absolutely wild with joy.
Nora’s enthusiasm for the Red Sox was evident in an e-mail I received from her a few years later.
“Watching the MLB.COM home opener right now -- when Johnny Pesky said "Play Ball", I got the chills! So great to see them playing again!!” – Tuesday 10 April 2007
Of course Boston went on to win another World Championship six months later. And we were at Sonny’s celebrating that victory as well. It is indeed fitting to remember Nora at this time and place. Thank you Hammy for your idea.
On Sunday 3 May 2009, I wrote in my Red Sox Box blog the following - “I found out early this morning that a woman, who had also patronized this New England bar and with whom I had watched a number of Red Sox games over the past five years, had unexpectedly died on Wednesday. The sorrow of this tragic end to Nora’s life is felt by all who knew her in this place. May Nora’s soul find rest and peace.”
Here’s a toast to Nora O’Brien! And by the way, on this Opening Night, the Red Sox beat the Yankees by a score of 9 to 7. Wherever she is, Nora is surely smiling.
Photo is of Nora and the 2004 World Series Championship trophy taken at Sonny McLean’s
On Wednesday 29 April 2009, Nora unexpectedly succumbed to a brain aneurysm. It was a shock to learn of her death a few days later. How can life be so fleeting? Although today is not the anniversary of her passing, Hammy (one of her close friends) wanted to have a remembrance of Nora on this baseball night and in this sports place. So, in Nora’s memory, a number of us are gathered around a table in the bar she would still have recognized as “home”.
I am not exactly sure when I first met Nora. I know it was through her great friend Lisa and sometime during the 2004 baseball season. Perhaps on a Sunday morning at Sonny’s watching a Red Sox game or on a bus trip to see them play the Angels. No matter, we met over the love of the Boston Red Sox and that’s all that counts. And that love of team came to fruition on Wednesday 27 October 2004 when the Boston Red Sox became World Series Champions and we were among the numerous people at Sonny McLean’s going absolutely wild with joy.
Nora’s enthusiasm for the Red Sox was evident in an e-mail I received from her a few years later.
“Watching the MLB.COM home opener right now -- when Johnny Pesky said "Play Ball", I got the chills! So great to see them playing again!!” – Tuesday 10 April 2007
Of course Boston went on to win another World Championship six months later. And we were at Sonny’s celebrating that victory as well. It is indeed fitting to remember Nora at this time and place. Thank you Hammy for your idea.
On Sunday 3 May 2009, I wrote in my Red Sox Box blog the following - “I found out early this morning that a woman, who had also patronized this New England bar and with whom I had watched a number of Red Sox games over the past five years, had unexpectedly died on Wednesday. The sorrow of this tragic end to Nora’s life is felt by all who knew her in this place. May Nora’s soul find rest and peace.”
Here’s a toast to Nora O’Brien! And by the way, on this Opening Night, the Red Sox beat the Yankees by a score of 9 to 7. Wherever she is, Nora is surely smiling.
Photo is of Nora and the 2004 World Series Championship trophy taken at Sonny McLean’s
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