What a Weekend

Normally, like many others, I lead a rather munduane life. I go to work, return home, eat, sleep etc. in a pretty regular pattern. For relaxation I might read (both from this LCD screen and the printed page), watch a little TV (not more than 10 hrs / week) , listen to music or pursue one of my hobbies. The days glide by (the weekends faster than the weekdays - go figure) and life is generally good. This past weekend was different, but in a good way.

First there was ( and is continuing) a 4+ day visit from my older daughter. Since she lives in Texas and I only get to see her about twice a year, this is a big deal. She arrived early Friday evening and her mother and I shared a pizza with her for dinner. Her BFF (Best Friend Forever for the unenlightened) came over and visited for a while, then the two of them went off to do other things. I watched the last installment of the PBS series on our National Parks (about which I intend to write another entry).

Saturday morning arrived wet and gloomy, but did not dissuade us from our planned trip to the cider mill (http://www.ujcidermill.com/). My younger daughter came over from where she lives on the west side of the state and the five of us (Mom, daughters, BFF and I) drove up to St. Johns, MI. We were met there by my goddaughter (who grew up, as much as a 4' 11 1/2" person can grow up, with my kids) and her boyfriend. We had a good time, drank cider, ate donuts, browsed the gift shop (which had, among other kitsch and tchotchkes, an anatomically correct gummi heart!) , did some wine tasting / purchasing and bought some baked goods. We left monetarily poorer, but enriched in spirit. The rain held off and the sun even peeked out once or twice. Hopefully the others enjoyed themselves as much as I did, even if it meant that I missed the first half of The Game.

"Which game is this?", you might ask, but only if you do not live in Michigan. It was the big one, the annual slugfest of a football game between Michigan State University (hereafter known as MSU or, alternatively, the good guys) and the University of Michigan (aka the Wolverines, a disgusting carrion eating (well, they are omnivorous) relative of the badger, referred to from now on as the evil enemy). This is the rivalry game for both teams, even if those other guys try to downplay it by saying "Our real rivalry game is with OSU" ( which is someplace way south of here - I've been close to there "once or twice"). I will grant that they hold the edge in the series, but that goes back to when U of M was a national powerhouse and MSU (then known as MAC - Michigan Agricultural College) was a dinky little land grant school populated with future farmers and, yes, cows.

In recent years the series has been pretty even, with them holding a slight edge. Most games are decided by a touchdown or less and not until the final moments of the game. This year was no exception. MSU ground out a 20 - 6 lead going into the final quarter, but that lead evaporated as they roared back to tie the game with 2 seconds left on the clock. (Aside to Rich Rodriguez, U of M Head Coach - Is your middle name Ara?*) Needless to say, this turn of events left me on the downhill side of an emotional rollercoaster. Real coasters I love, emotional ones not so much! The good guys, however, prevailed in the overtime as MSU turned them back with an improbable interception in the end zone, and then scored a touchdown on a running play that was called to merely get the ball in a better position to kick a winning field goal. Pandemonium ensued, both on the field and in front of my TV. You do not want to be in the house with me for this game, as the levels of "verbal encouragement" and "mocking derision" follow the ebb and flow of the contest and the volume of same becomes proportional to the closeness of the score.
(*semi obscure reference to 1966 MSU - Notre Dame "Game of the Century")

The emotional exhaustion from this ordeal led to my doing little of note that evening, other than comisserating with a friend, over dinner and later, about blown calls by the refs and missed opportunities by MSU to stretch their lead sufficiently. I dragged my weary but satisfied self to bed and slept well.

Sunday I awoke and gleaned the news from the 2 papers we receive while drinking coffee and enjoying a fresh cider mill donut. I've always been an avid newspaper reader, even as a child. There is nothing better (well, almost nothing) than a morning spent in a comfy chair with a paper in my hands and a fresh cup of coffee by my side. I mourn the decline of the newspaper industry in the USA. And no, reading it on my monitor is just not the same, nor as satisfying.

Most of Sunday afternoon was consumed by my going to a friend's place to watch NASCAR (that's "stock car" racing for those of you living under rocks) on a big HD (high definition - ditto the rocks etc.) TV. After the race my visiting daughter and I went out for a "Dad & daughter only" dinner at the Texas Roadhouse, which I understand is an extremely popular place with certain younger people I know that live near Toledo. Steaks were consumed and conversation flowed easily. We returned home and talked some more until her aforementioned BFF arrived and they went out.

I read for a while, then went to bed. I was tired but satisfied, physically, emotionally and, in the broadest sense, spiritually. For when I am with my children, and the friends that they have chosen, I see the adults that they have become. And I am happy.