My friend Manny's person was talking about the Yankees on her blog and it reminded me of a story from my youth. Thought I'd share....

 

Everyone in Texas was excited about the new "9th Wonder of the World - The Houston Astrodome". I was in the first grade, Sis 5 years ahead of me, Bub 8 years ahead. Bub was a Roger Maris fan, so a Yankees fan. When it was announced that the Astros would open the Astrodome with a series against the New York Yankees, my Dad scraped up the money for all of us to go. The whole family went to the opener, and then Daddy took my brother and his friends to another game. President Lyndon Johnson and Governor John Connally would be at the opening game. It was all very exciting.

 

We were NOT city people, and Daddy was one of those macho men who would NOT stop and ask for directions. He figured if we drove around long enough we would stumble onto whatever we were looking for. And, hey, the Astrodome was big so it oughta stick out. Well, we intended to have a picnic before we went into the game because we wouldn't be able to afford drinks and hot dogs inside the stadium. (The phrase "tailgating" had not been coined yet.) Families didn't eat out like they do today. I mean, we ate out (at Luby's) about once a year on Mother's Day. Mother and Daddy limited us to "only what you'll eat and be sure your eyes aren't bigger than your stomach." Whatever we took on our tray was gonna be in our bodies at the end of the meal whether we ingested through our mouths or they shoved it up our asses, but we did NOT waste! I digress....  So, after having driven around Houston for awhile looking for the Astrodome, it was decided that we were hungry and wouldn't have time for the planned picnic, so we were to eat in the car. Mother had fried about six chickens and had them in a great big box. We had a gallon Thermos that had a drinking spout on it full of Kool-Aid that we took turns taking swigs out of.

 

So here we were in our 1964 Bel-Air (Pa, Ma, and Sis in the front - Bub and his two friends in the back - and me in the back window or perched on someone's lap) passing chicken back and forth, passing the Thermos back and forth, Mother cussing at Daddy to just stop and ASK somebody, Daddy crankily telling her to "aww hush" because we were bound to be almost on it, when a motorcade came up behind us. Daddy respectfully pulled to the right lane and slowed down. It was LBJ and Governor Connally! But, EUREKA, the motorcade was going to the 'Dome, right? WE were going to the 'Dome, right? Well, by golly, we would just follow the motorcade. The motorcycle cops pass us, several limousines pass us, and just before the last motorcycle cops pass us Daddy whips the Bel-Air right in behind the last limo. Wow, they really did NOT want us in that motorcade. The police were waving at Daddy to pull over, but he ignored them. Mother was yelling at Daddy that we were gonna get arrested. All of us kids were waving at police and secret service guys. It was incredibly exciting!! As the Astrodome appeared on the horizon, Daddy eased out of the motorcade and waved at the cops as they passed us by. Today we would have been shot. Life was so much simpler back then!

 

My brother got several autographs  - Maris (by hanging onto the team bus as it pulled away from the 'Dome), Mantle, bunches of guys that are in the Hall of Fame now. A few years ago I gave my ticket stubs to my nephew in the original little orange envelope they came in. They're framed and could fetch a nice price on ebay he tells me.

 

We had such a great time!

 

 

 

 

 

Tee-hee. My boss let me leave work early today, the day before the holiday break. Wowie gosh dang golly - I'm so happy. Seriously! Let's see, we didn't have kindergarten when I was a tot, so I started school at age 6. That means I've either attended a school or worked at one for 42 years (oh shit!). There are certain things that are a given:

     a.  The best thing about school is the first day in the fall - every year.

     b.  The best thing about school is the first day of break - every break.

As a student, walking away from your classroom before a break, whether it was summer, spring, or Christmas, meant freedom. It meant sleeping late, no homework, and days of idle play. The huge feeling of anticipation of the coming freedom would well in your entire soul and explode out into the air as you walked through the school doors into open space.

 

You would think at the grand age of 48 that it would be "ho-hum another Christmas break" but it isn't. I still get that awesome feeling of anticipated freedom. So to be allowed to leave the office three hours early was BONUS. It's "anticipated freedom X 2". Plus, to go on break three hours before it's truly LEGAL to go makes it even better - it's "anticipated freedom over sneaky X 2". I just wanted to laugh loudly and hysterically...and I kinda did that when I got in the truck and pulled away from the nearly-deserted campus.

 

I'm so excited. In two years I'll have "ANTICIPATED FREEDOM TO THE INFINITIETH POWER"!!!! (Retirement.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I completed my civic duty yesterday and reported as requested for jury duty in federal court. Oh yeah, not just "court" but "federal court". I was big-time. Federal court pays $40/day instead of the other court's $7/day. Plus they reimbursed for mileage and parking. SWEET. Extra Christmas shopping money! They were selecting a jury panel for a guy that was charged with dealing, using, making methamphetamine, and then something about a gun. At first, the U.S. Attorney asked generic "drug" questions. "Will you be able to make a fair assessment of the facts even if you know drugs were allegedly involved?" Sure, I thought to myself. I guess I'm old school because when you say "drugs" to me I think pot, cocaine, l.s.d. - 70's stuff. Then, the defense attorney asked, "Will you be able to make a fair assessment of the facts even if you hear that methamphetamines are allegedly involved?" PING. I knew by the recoiling of my guts that, no, I might not be able to fairly assess what I heard in testimony. So I raised my hand, feeling like a criminal myself. Every eye in the courtroom was on me. I stood up. "Your Honor," I shakily addressed the judge, "I would try to be fair but I have a definite bias regarding methamphetamines." I didn't realize how bad was my bias until that attorney asked her question. The judge tells me he will speak with me IN PRIVATE. Oh, shit, what had I done? Would I be chastised? So, when the judge cleared the jury panel from the courtroom and began calling those of us with "issues" in one by one, I was very nervous. In fact, when I began answering the judge I thought I was going to hyperventilate. But I didn't. The judge called me to the front of his really tall desk-thing (bench?) and asked me why I thought I would be biased in a case involving meth. I glanced at the two U.S. attorneys and the defense attorney, and then back to the judge and told him, "My niece was married to a witty and loving young man who got hooked on meth. His addiction has fried him to the point that he is barely functionable. His addiction has caused tremendous emotional pain and financial strain to my niece who had to divorce him, and to his whole family. I've seen what meth does to people and it's horrible." Needless to say I was dismissed from jury duty. And I typed that a lot smoother than it actually came out of my mouth in the courtroom.

 

When I got home I cried. I didn't realize how badly I felt for my niece's ex-husband. I haven't seen him since they divorced. He was a hard-worker, he was hilariously  funny, he was handsome. He was just gonna try it with a buddy. They both got hooked. It's incredibly sad that a young man with such potential has become such a waste. It's sad to know that everytime his mother's phone rings she prays it's not someone calling to say her son has died.

 

Wherever you are, Blake, I love you.