“I thought she was going to break her in two.” The lady who lives across the street was in Norman, Oklahoma at Oklahoma University when her daughter and mine had an emotional reunion. Both are freshmen in college and the occasion was a theatrical production at OU for which our young neighbor was cast in the lead role. The young ladies have been close since they were little girls, and it’s a testimony to the depth of their friendship that our daughter rounded up a crew from TCU and DBU and hit the highway for OU. 
The post-production hug seemed to affirm how meaningful the trip was to both of them. Also in tow: the girl from down the street, another TCU freshman. Three 19-year-olds whose home bases are five houses apart convened at a distant outpost to celebrate one’s early success in college.
It’s such a beautiful thing.
Somewhere between where they were and where they were going, there was a casino. In the middle of the night, the bright lights must have seemed like an oasis. Or, like a flame to a flock of moths, it shined in the Oklahoma night. They simply couldn’t resist.
On another highway headed in exactly the opposite direction, our son took the celebration of being 21 to arguably the highest possible level. He went to New Orleans for Mardi Gras weekend. Details from the trip are slow to emerge, but he did manage to disseminate exactly one image from Bourbon Street.
He was in a group of friends traveling in a caravan; and the few bits of information we have received indicate the experience lived up to expectations. If you know anything about Mardi Gras in New Orleans, that can be exciting and a little alarming at the same time.
While the offspring were living it up, my wife and I were staying out much later than we normally do. 
We were invited to a surprise birthday event for a younger friend. As the youngsters have a tendency to do, they started late. We arrived at 10:00 p.m.! I told our friend that this was a true indication of our affection for him, because we’re normally in bed at that time of night. We were at a popular Mexican restaurant. There was a price to be paid for eating chips and salsa that late in the evening. Man, I’m old.
It was the end of a long day during which we also hit the road, bound at a 90 degree angle away from the traveling young adults.
We went to a basketball game at Louisiana Tech, where I represented the employer by ambling out to mid-court at halftime to receive a basketball autographed by the coach.
So far I have resisted the temptation to add up the miles accumulated by the family fleet this weekend. That would be a wet blanket on all the fun. I just hope everybody starts the week safe, awake and alert.
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Drama, Debauchery, Basketball and Salsa
Sunday, February 22, 2009
A Fish Out of Water
The 2009 Bassmasters Classic is behind us, and we are told it was a record setting week. More than 100,000 people saw some part of the event over three days, according to the event's organizers. To me that is just incredible. I read in the paper that on Saturday, the fire marshall would not let any more people into our arena, which seats 12,000 or so and holds even more with people on the floor. Although this kind of thing doesn't interest me at all, I had to see it to believe it. So, I used my familiarity with the arena to shoehorn my way in and I was just blown away..JPG)
Aside from the sheer numbers, it was interesting to observe the demeanor of the attendees. They were thrilled to watch their angler heroes roll in and present their day's catch to be weighed. It was that simple: Ride in your boat as it is towed behind a pickup truck, put your fish on the scale, get the weight, get interviewed and get on your way. Next! Do it again...and the breathless thousands were having the time of their lives..JPG)
More power to them. I left after five fishermen and was happy to get home.
I had also read that more than 60,000 people went into our convention center on Saturday for a bass fishing expo. So, I had to see that, too. Having been there for about a half-hour, seeing the crowd and the cars and the vendors, I believe it.
Let me rephrase: I can accept that figure as true, but I still can't really believe it.
As long as I had decided to be out and about, I decided to immerse myself in full citizen participation. I went to an affternoon Mardi Gas parade..JPG)
The atmosphere was lively and light-hearted. People were having a great time. So, it was a positive day and I was about to assuage my guilt about my own abject apathy.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Instead of the Parade.....
It was a spur of the moment decision. We had no plans to go, but we were near the arena when the box office opened today and there were a few hundred tickets available. So, what the heck?
I guess I have to check my manhood at the door; but a couple of Grammy winners together on the same stage isn't something that happens every day.
I kind of thought this show would be a tough sell around here. There's a major Mardi Gras parade tonight, and it seems like everybody goes to those things. But, thanks to walk-ups like us, the concert is sold out.
I've certainly put in my time. In fact, we used to have reserved parking spots. The kids go on their own now, and we're not big party people. So, the parades have lost their sizzle for us. I hope everybody has a good time.
Because we bought our concert tickets on the day of the show, our seats are pretty lousy. We're going for the music, though. So, as long as we can hear I'm good.
Tomorrow, I will engage in manly activities such as cursing during the Super Bowl to even things out.
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Update: I have to be honest. The show was really good. I was kind of disappointed when it ended.
A comedienne, who co-starred in McEntire's TV show, named Melissa opened with a 20-minute set and she was very funny. She had a spot in the concert, too.
Neither Clarkson nor McEntire ever left the stage, and they usually sang together, performing each other's songs. One thing I never thought I'd see: Reba McEntire doing back-up vocals on an angry rock song. She did, dancing back there and hitting all the harmonies on "Never Again."
Not only that, we upgraded our location. We got invited into one of the luxury boxes. A great show and a private bathroom! What more could you want?
I'll start warming up for Super Bowl cussing now. Sphere: Related Content
