met my wife back in August of 1999.  The season had ended, and I don't remember talking about umpiring or baseball games on any of those first dates.  It wasn't until the following spring that she really became aware of umpiring and just how much I was into being an umpire.  Since then, she's gotten accustomed to being married to an official.  But it hasn't always been smooth, and my umpiring will always be only a part of my family life.

The start

My first summer of umpiring was in 1991.  I was just out of high school and  began umpiring after a friend suggested I try it. I would work several games a week of 9-10 year olds and that was about it.  Living at home and without a girlfriend, I was able to umpire as I pleased.  My parents didn't come to watch me work, and they were happy that I was pursuing something that wasn't going to get me in trouble, at least what they defined as trouble.

Continued...