Had a wonderful weekend. First off, Tracy and I cut the last of our pegboard and Saturday morning, I put that up and finally finished the garage. I’ve been waiting for over a year to finally get that done. Once that was finished, I went off to the Elgin-Larkin high school football game. I have had difficulty going to games because of a few things that are increasingly annoying to me. I’m starting to not enjoy going to live sporting events because of the atmosphere. First and foremost, these are kid’s games. They are fun to play and to watch, but ultimately, just a kid’s game. The level that some people work themselves up to, over a kid’s game, is disturbing. Yes, I understand there is rivalry, but these kids are mostly good kids. Their parents are just as good as you are. There is no need whatsoever to “Boo” these kids. IT IS A GAME! This isn’t a battle of world domination. Second, the language. Now, I’ve had my own issues with language and I do sometimes have a problem, which is one reason why I don’t talk all that much. Best to keep the mouth shut. However, the language and the “universal adjective” being used by parents and kids alike make me wonder about the education of all involved. Really, I understand situational profanity. There are times when I think it is probably appropriate, unlike some might think. However, those times are hitting your finger with a hammer, or getting shot at. It shouldn’t be involved with kid’s throwing a football. It shouldn’t be involved with children at all. There are times when I realize that it wasn’t too long ago we crawled out of the trees. I often have a low opinion of humanity. Anyway, I left the game shortly after halftime because of the other thing I have noticed about going to the games. I get lonely. My kids aren’t interested in watching the games, and I’m reluctant to take them to games where they will be assaulted by the language I experience. My wife watches the kids. So there I am. In a crowd wishing I had my wife with me. The last 10 years or so has been like that.
Something else, and perhaps I am too hyper sensitive to this kind of thing, but I was walking to the game and next thing I realize, is that I’m surrounded by cheerleaders. Perhaps that isn’t a bad thing. Still, a man clearly in his mid fourties, with no woman accompanying him, walking amid 20 teenage girls in short skirts, with police all around…I decided that I should start fading back and separate myself from that group.
That night we had a friend’s child babysit and Tracy and I went to Bill Cosby. This was a last minute kind of thing. Tracy had looked it up and purchased the tickets. It was quite a personal event also. Back in 1986 I went to his concert with another wonderful woman and now 25 or so years later, went with my wife of 21 years. He had a good act. He uses the bible for much of his material, and I did like the piece about Adam getting a helpmate…not a boss. God could have given him a shammy, but the “mate” part might have been a bit more difficult. He compared childbirth to men getting stuck in their zippers, which was particularly funny. For all I know, it was probably the same material he used 25 years ago. However the venue was more intimate than the Marriot Center and the 25 years have made him a bit less active on the stage, but it was still a wonderful show.
It did highlight how much I enjoy being with Tracy. I just can’t get over how lucky I am for being married to her. We have beautiful, if not somewhat frustrating, children, a wonderful home, a job that I thoroughly enjoy with a company I’ve wanted to work for since college. Yes, we’ve worked hard for it. We’ve had to sacrifice a lot of things to be where we are. I’m not rich for all of it either, but I am happy. That is more than some people, I guess. If I’m lucky, my life is reaching its midpoint…or perhaps it might be lucky if it is less or more than that. Still, aside from some short bouts, it has been a wonderful time. I’m glad I have such a great woman to share it with. I’ve associated with truly great people. I wish I could adequately tell them how much I appreciate them.
I realize I get overly nostalgic in my posts, but perhaps it is the thought that I never know when I’m going to check out and I want my last thoughts and communication to be positive and thankful, and, because I am.
