The upper deck was supposed to be good for baseball and fireworks.
A group of friends was putting together a July 4 trip to see the Colorado Rockies play the Florida Marlins. The seats were in the infield, high enough to see the game and the show afterward. Tickets were expected to cost about $35 each.
The organizer wanted answers quickly so the group could buy seats together. The first message asked everyone to reply before the purchase.
I had not answered, so the plan did not put a ticket in my hand. It was still an invitation with an estimated price, not a receipt or reservation.
The Rockies were coming off their 2007 World Series run. The July 4 game was still three weeks away. At this point, the group needed a count before it could buy seats together.
The first message was simple. The opponent was the Florida Marlins. The date was July 4. The seats would be in the upper infield deck. The estimated cost was about $35. Fireworks followed the game.
The email did not include seat numbers or a final price. Those details depended on how many people replied and what remained available when the organizer bought the block.
Nobody had collected money from me. I had not selected a seat, asked the organizer to hold one, or joined the group count. The first email was still planning.
I had the proposed game and the deadline. I had not said yes. Nothing had been purchased for me.