The Gentleman from Jacksonville, Jeopardy Champ, Terry Collins got back to me. Happy Thanksgiving, he said. Having spent the day at McKennabunkport, AKA our friends Bill and Diane's hacienda by the sea. Li'l em kel got back. Mountain Man, AKA Fred up in the Sierra Nevadas. Jim Manning, professor of Exercise Science at William Patersen College got back to me. Good man, Jim. Best man at our wedding.
Thanks all. For getting back.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Missed You ( !!!!!!!!! goes without saying )
Picked her up tonight at the airport. Missed a turn off Highway 17. Got a little lost. Why didn't I bring the GPS Lady? I got off the highway and headed into downtown Wilmington, whose streets I know well. I know how to get to the airport from downtown.
I cell phoned Moriarty and told her the KIA Soul was running late. Delta was on time all the way down. It was me who was delayed.
I got to the airport around 9 p.m. Moriarty's plane had arrived 30 minutes before. When she opened the Soul's door, Ollie started crying, yelping. Loose translation:
Gawd it's great to see you. I missed you SO much!!!! Ooooh. Yipes. I can't believe you're home.
Me? I kissed her. Asked how the flight was. No drama. No crying. No yelping. I was thrilled to see her. But I'm a typical guy. Low key.
There are many roles dogs play in our lives. Welcoming home those they and we love is just one of them.
I cell phoned Moriarty and told her the KIA Soul was running late. Delta was on time all the way down. It was me who was delayed.
I got to the airport around 9 p.m. Moriarty's plane had arrived 30 minutes before. When she opened the Soul's door, Ollie started crying, yelping. Loose translation:
Gawd it's great to see you. I missed you SO much!!!! Ooooh. Yipes. I can't believe you're home.
Me? I kissed her. Asked how the flight was. No drama. No crying. No yelping. I was thrilled to see her. But I'm a typical guy. Low key.
There are many roles dogs play in our lives. Welcoming home those they and we love is just one of them.
To Each His Own Village
I think one of the things we all search for is community. Maybe that's why that someone whose name I forget wrote that life is like high school. High school. Now THAT was a community. Peggy Piper going out with Jim Cobb. The guidance counselor having an affair with the secretary. Tom Lux and Gary LeBeau. Mr. Welch and Mr. Rockey. Miss Lee.
I was miserable in high school. But I felt like I was part of a community. A small part. A nearly invisible part. But a part of the whole just the same.
I'm picking Moriarty up at the airport tonight. She went " back home " for four days. I stayed here with Mr. O. When Moriarty's back here, she'll feel right at home. She's made lots of friends.
I've met folks. Tried to get into a group of tennis players my age. They used to call and ask if I could play Tuesday at 4. I always said yes. They don't call anymore.
I've made lots of friends since moving here. But it's a different social circle than Moriarty's circle of friends. I tend to connect with people who read my blog. Moriarty makes phone calls and visits people. I email and respond to comments on a blog.
It's the 21st century. Like always, it takes a village. To each his own village.
I was miserable in high school. But I felt like I was part of a community. A small part. A nearly invisible part. But a part of the whole just the same.
I'm picking Moriarty up at the airport tonight. She went " back home " for four days. I stayed here with Mr. O. When Moriarty's back here, she'll feel right at home. She's made lots of friends.
I've met folks. Tried to get into a group of tennis players my age. They used to call and ask if I could play Tuesday at 4. I always said yes. They don't call anymore.
I've made lots of friends since moving here. But it's a different social circle than Moriarty's circle of friends. I tend to connect with people who read my blog. Moriarty makes phone calls and visits people. I email and respond to comments on a blog.
It's the 21st century. Like always, it takes a village. To each his own village.
Hats Off To This Spot
I like the commercial for New Era baseball caps. The one where the guy goes out to the mound and you think at first he's the manager. Or the pitching coach. Then. Pan to what he's wearing on his feet. He's got the merchandise: The jacket and the cap. But below the waist he's just another fan. The young actors who play his sons left behind in the stands are great. Their embarrassed reactions to what their father is doing is priceless.
Nothing To Sneeze At
Thanks to Anchorman for the heads up on this one. Kudos to the Onion. This is very good.
Click here: The Brooks File
Click here: The Brooks File
That Airport
I'll be on my way to the airport tonight. As I drive north on Highway 17 to pick up my wife in Wilmington I'll be thinking back to another November 29 when I was on my way to an airport. The same airport Moriarty is flying out of this afternoon.
I was on my way to Bradley Field, which is now called Bradley International. I'd just raised my hand and had been sworn in as a member of the United States Air Force. The plan was to fly out of Bradley, stop at JFK in NYC, then head down to San Antonio. Lackland AFB. Where I'd be spending six weeks in basic training.
I'd never flown before. As the bus pulled out of Springfield it started to snow. My first flight ever would be in a snowstorm. We took off in snow. We landed at JFK in heavy snow. There was some talk of our flight being cancelled, but it wasn't.
This was November 29, 1967. I was 20 years old. The war in Viet Nam was raging. The Tet Offensive loomed on the horizon. The war was getting worse, and I was on my way to basic training. Looking back I think of that stormy day as the beginning of a great adventure. I traveled. I met guys from every state in the union. I got to live in England for two years. Got to know the city of London like the back of my hand. All on the government's dime.
November 29, 1967. Long time ago. I'll be thinking about it as I drive north on Highway 17. Heading towards that airport in Wilmington.
I was on my way to Bradley Field, which is now called Bradley International. I'd just raised my hand and had been sworn in as a member of the United States Air Force. The plan was to fly out of Bradley, stop at JFK in NYC, then head down to San Antonio. Lackland AFB. Where I'd be spending six weeks in basic training.
I'd never flown before. As the bus pulled out of Springfield it started to snow. My first flight ever would be in a snowstorm. We took off in snow. We landed at JFK in heavy snow. There was some talk of our flight being cancelled, but it wasn't.
This was November 29, 1967. I was 20 years old. The war in Viet Nam was raging. The Tet Offensive loomed on the horizon. The war was getting worse, and I was on my way to basic training. Looking back I think of that stormy day as the beginning of a great adventure. I traveled. I met guys from every state in the union. I got to live in England for two years. Got to know the city of London like the back of my hand. All on the government's dime.
November 29, 1967. Long time ago. I'll be thinking about it as I drive north on Highway 17. Heading towards that airport in Wilmington.
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