We were fortunate to have many folks from abroad stay with us in Takoma Park, MD. People whom Kay had visited, mostly in Central and South America, for her work with the Bank Information Center.
Maria Augusta was an anthropology professor from Ecuador, as I recall. Our son was a devoted Orioles fan at the time of her visit, and she was intrigued by Nate’s enthusiasm for a sport she knew nothing about. Kay took her to Baltimore to see a game.
As soon as the O’s took the field, Maria Augusta, whose athletic baseline was likely soccer-centric, exclaimed “You Americans are so unfair!” Kay asked why she would say such a thing. “Well, look at it. It’s nine against one!”
Kay spent the whole game explaining the arcane rules of baseball. By the eighth inning, Maria Augusta proclaimed an insight into US culture, and economic global dominance. Unlike the singular soccer impulse to put the ball in the goal, she saw patient, strategic moves: with threatening runners on base, a manager might opt to switch pitchers for a left-handed batter. Or players would willingly jeopardize their own success to enhance success for the team: sacrifice flies to advance base runners. Ruthless exploitation of senseless rules: a batter successfully sprinted to first after the catcher dropped strike three. Oh, and breaking those damned rules: why else do they call it “stealing” a base? Also, utter devotion to numbers: batting average, on-base percentage, counting pitches… all contributing to a statistical analysis that helps you win. America’s all about winning.
I guess this is less about Kay, and more about Maria Augusta’s insights. But it was the kind of cultural dance that Kay delighted in promoting. And it enlivened life in Takoma Park.