Did I do the right thing?

[Wino you know]

PLEASE read this entire message and tell me whether or not you think I did the right thing.
Thanks.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Last night, I took my father to see the Cedar Rapids Kernels (the minor league baseball team here).
Here's what happened-
My father has a very bad case of Emphysema(sp)? AND C.O.P.D.
He has great difficulty walking any more than a block or two, can't climb stairs without assistance, and, of course, sometimes has lots of trouble breathing.
He uses a nebulizer to help, and takes two different kinds of medications.
Both are pill form.
One he takes at 7:00 PM every night, the other he takes at 8:00 PM every night.
Obviously, these need to be taken with water.
The guy recently lost all of his lifetime possessions & memories in the recent floods here, his house was trashed to the extent of $70,000.00 worth of damage IN ADDITION to losing all of his possessions, and probably has two years left, at most, on this earth. Needless to say, the man has been beyond depressed lately.
Well, last night I picked him up to take him to the stadium, and, since he had to take his medications, he brought a bottle of water with him.
The game started at 7:00 PM, the same time he needs to take medication # 1. Of course, the game would still be in progress at 8:00 PM, when he has to take medication # 2.
I picked him up at about 6:00 PM.

As we were walking into the stadium, the morons at the gate TRIED TO STOP MY 82 YEAR OLD FATHER WHO SUFFERS FROM EMPHYSEMA AND C.O.P.D. FROM TAKING HIS FRIGGIN' 10 OZ. BOTTLED WATER INSIDE THE G.D. PLACE!!!!!
He explained to them in a CALM AND CIVIL MANNER of his condition, but they persisted. He WOULD NOT be allowed to take in any outside beverage, but WOULD be "allowed" to buy some at the stadium concession for FOUR F'ING DOLLARS!!!

That's when I stepped in and, in a NOT so civil manner, told those PRICKS he WILL be taking his bottled water inside, that's it, case closed, conversation over!
I then took the bottled water from my father, and stated to those bozos "HERE IT IS, I HAVE IT, IF YOU WANT IT, TRY AND GET IT."
I then escorted my father to our seats, gave him his bottled water back, he took his medications on time without incident, nobody else bothered us for the rest of the game, and father & son had a GREAT TIME at the game, which, in all liklihood will be the last time he and I ever get to go to a game together.

So please tell me, did I act accordingly, or was I out of line?

Thanks for indulging me.

[Crazy Navy Flyer]

Yep, nice to see someone stand up to those bozos. Good on ya.

[Snowparrot]

You're braver than I am, Garry, but I knew that anyway.
Glad it worked out for you.

[Dutch Harbor PH]

The Morons at the gate were WAY out of line...... The usual reason for banning outside beverages is usually cited as being that they don't want any one to get hurt if a full bottle of (whatever) gets thrown into the crowd/ onto the field etc...(Which is not nessasarily an unreasonable thing in light of the crowds at some games)...HOWEVER.....the gate guards have the option to relax the rules in the case of your Dad..... the worst that is going to happen is that he might knock the bottle over and spill some water on himself.....No Worries!!!

We go to Mariners games a bit here in Seattle. My son is Diabetic and can't drink soda. He brings diet, caffine free pepsi to the games. He is always stopped but after explaining the guys at the gate have always let him in with the soda.....sometimes with a "I'm not supposed to do this" but they have never given him a hard time.......These guys get it.....

I don't think MLB would like to hear the story about you and your Dad..... it is their intention to get families into the seats.....not hassle them at the gate....

[STL PARROTHEAD]

YOUR AWESOME!!!

[springparrot]

((((Garry and Dad))))

These guys at the gates need to get over themselves

[Salukulady]

You were right, but if there is a next time, don't let them get your blood pressure up, just ask for a supervisor and if they are idiots also, remind them you will be talking to the newspaper in the morning. Also, (my Mom was in the same condition as your Dad for years), get him a wheelchair next time. He'll last longer through the evening and not get tired so quickly. If he is hesitant, remind him there is no shame in using a wheelchair....and sometimes you get better seats.

[SMLCHNG]

I'm on your side, Garry... the whole banned water bottle thing has gotten way out of hand. I understand the general reasoning and purpose, but there ARE exceptions.

[Wino you know]

You were right, but if there is a next time, don't let them get your blood pressure up, just ask for a supervisor and if they are idiots also, remind them you will be talking to the newspaper in the morning. Also, (my Mom was in the same condition as your Dad for years), get him a wheelchair next time. He'll last longer through the evening and not get tired so quickly. If he is hesitant, remind him there is no shame in using a wheelchair....and sometimes you get better seats.

Thanks.
I brought my wife's walker with us in case he wanted to use it. It has a seat, wheels, and a basket on it, and I would've wheeled him in if he wanted, but, him being him, adamantly refused. He did okay walking into the stadium from the parking lot, and we actually had GREAT seats. First row directly behind home plate. (Don't forget-this is minor league class A baseball).
He emphatically stated he enjoyed himself, and was able to make it through the whole game. Normally he would've probably wanted me to take him home around the end of the 7th inning or so. (NO, he's not a Dodgers fan).
I think he was able to make himself stay for the whole game because, deep down, I guess he ALSO must've realized this would be the last time he and I would get to go to a game together. (The season ends next week, and next year we're thinking there's no way he'd be able to go).
But we'll see. We've probably been to well over 5000 major & minor league games together since I was born. One more would be great, but I'm thinking in realistic terms.

Thanks again.

[MammaBear]

GREAT SON!!!

morons!!

(wish I had one more game with my Dad)

[AlbatrossFlyer]

have you checked the stadium policy on bringing in bottled water? pretty much all the venues out here in the desert let you bring in 1 unopened bottle of water per person.

if there's a next time put the bottled water in a ziploc baggie with the pill bottles.....

[caly]

Nice kahonas my friend!

[VanillaGrl]

Like Penny said...it's gotten out of hand. I would have done exactly the same thing for my dad.

((((((Dad & Garry))))))

[z-man]

Those "morons at the gate" are simply trying to follow the rules given to them by the ballpark, while making minimum wage for a few hours of part time work. They don't make up the policies, they are simply told to follow the rules, or lose their part time job.

Are the rules stupid - Yes

Is it the fault of the minimum wage gate keeper - No

Is it worth causing a scene over a few dollars - some people would think not.

Had you been on the other side of the disagreement, and some guy told you he wasn't going to do what you told him to do, even though you were enforcing the law (rules your superiors told you to follow) You would have roughed him, cuffed him and thrown his @ss in jail.

Seems like a double standard.

[nutmeg]

Hey Garry! Glad you and your dad enjoyed the game. Our stadium has the same policy. The water here is $3.00 for the same bottle you could get for 99 cents somewhere else

I can't believe they would begrudge an elderly, ill man his water....soooo stupid

We got to take my parents to a game this year too. They really loved it!

[pbans]

Well done, Garry.....
Your Dad raised you right.

[pojo]

you weren't out of line.... they were bozos.

[GumboPirate]

Go Garry!!

[popcornjack]

GREAT SON!!!

morons!!

(wish I had one more game with my Dad)

wish my nephews had one game with their grandpa period. I'd trade anything in the world for that.

Garry, I hate to say it but i have to agree with z-man. there are rules, and you are a law and order type of guy. If you inquired earlier, they may have given you exceptions (or they may have not, but it's worth the effort to find out.) I'm not trying to s*** on you Garry, and I am certainly not trying to ruin the memory of your time with your dad, I am just being devil's advocate. The stadium, just like many these days, has a policy. You want to vilify the guy at the counter because he's following policy? Like anywhere else one goes, there are regulations to follow for their job.

[rumdrinks]

Those "morons at the gate" are simply trying to follow the rules given to them by the ballpark, while making minimum wage for a few hours of part time work. They don't make up the policies, they are simply told to follow the rules, or lose their part time job.

Are the rules stupid - Yes

Is it the fault of the minimum wage gate keeper - No

Is it worth causing a scene over a few dollars - some people would think not.

Had you been on the other side of the disagreement, and some guy told you he wasn't going to do what you told him to do, even though you were enforcing the law (rules your superiors told you to follow) You would have roughed him, cuffed him and thrown his @ss in jail.

Seems like a double standard.

Agreed, the rules are stupid, but the bozos (I'm sure they appreciate being belittled for doing their job), are not the ones to take it out on. It was a management issue that should have been taken up with management.