Sunday Afternoon Football

My daddy watched football til the cows came home! No, really...till he had to milk those girls!! After he sold the dairy, no question about Sunday afternoons, it was football, coffee and small talk. Mother was right there as well. And, as a widow, she watched football games in the fall, basketball playoffs, baseball all the time and loved to watch Tiger Woods on the golf course!!
With the cool Fall weather here upon us, it's easy for me to think of those 'goodest 'ol days' when life was just life! One of the first impressions that surfs through the empty spaces in my head is the picture of the lazy bottom that lay out in front of the house. You had to cross the gravel road, drive, ride or run down the lazy hill to get into the pasture part and then, nothin' but space.
Our big white house had a huge front porch, painted gray. You could sit on the top step and stare out over the land and dream anything you wanted. Now when I did that, Rip was right there wondering what I was thinking. He was a most faithful German Shepherd and smarter than most.
There was a tank in the right lower pasture there. We hosted wiener roasts, hayrides, sing alongs and anything else you can think of. My brother, Jim, would bring Golden Wave Band members out to the farm for different things. We always had church groups out for hayrides and wiener roasts and...when family came from the coast, there were times we shared that same fun event with all of them.
Our house had 10' ceilings and daddy and I guess, Jimmy had helped...converted the long open hallway into a nice living room area. We picked out pale green shag carpet for that floor and who would have ever guessed? The most unusual, but fun, group to watch sit all over that floor and furniture were the Kappa Kappa Psi members from the Baylor band.
Jim would have them out for the Academy Awards night. Mother would prepare food, they would all begin arriving and me? I was a silly teenager who stared and picked out all the cute ones!!
Those guys came from some ultra rich families and homes from all over the place, but when they hit our living room...they were more at home than most. It didn't matter that the drive was somewhat lengthy to get out there. It didn't matter that the smell of a dairy hit your senses as you drove up the long drive. It didn't matter that we were 'country folk'...all that mattered was laughter, fun, the warmth of our home open to them and good times they all spent watching our little 29" or whatever size tv we had.
Life as we grew up was simple compared to the chaos and challenges of today's world. Many days I thank my lucky stars to have been a baby boomer for those days were truly the GOOD 'OL DAYS! We played games, went to movies, went to fellowship and went to school. Succeeding was high on our lists because we didn't want to let our parents down.
Our parents had expectations for our lives. They talked to us, they supported our choices and they cheered when we graduated from LaVega High School. They'd have it no other way back then.
The past couple of weeks have offered some moments of frustration for me. I've had the eye surgeries...doing fine. I'm recooperating and seeing interns. But, in the back of my mind, the clock is ticking a bit faster over January's approach. The month of January issues in a an entire new spin on my life. I find myself wondering if I'm ready for this change? What am I really made of?
On those days I know I'm thinking far too much (most of them), I make me slow down and remember the good times. And suddenly, I wonder about those folks who have no good times to fall back on? What do they do?
I can't solve those thoughts...I can just sits and thanks about 'em. I do know that the family/friends connection sure makes a difference. No, I don't hear from people every day...sometimes it's long periods of time in between. But when I do hear from them it's neat to know they are thinking about me and wishing good things for me.
Foundation. That's what we all have by this time. Life's foundation. It came from elementary, junior high (barf) and high school. Some of those teachers I despised an some I worshiped...Mabel Legg...she was the bestest of the restest!
I hope this week smooths out and runs like a mercedes...but, it may not. I do know that each day and week now brings me closer to my new challenge. Thank goodness I will be asleep for the carving party!
I've spent today catching up in the house. Laundry, vacuuming, dusting, etc. etc etc. Clutter drives me crazy and I need something to do anyway. In some of the past critical times with my sweet mother and her health...you could even find me ironing in the middle of the night!
That's right. It sort of became the 'joke' about me in a crisis! Make me worry over health conditions of a loved one and I'll probably break out the iron! Hey, it worked then...probably still would.
All I have to say at the end of this epistle is this... I DO KNOW WHERE MY IRON IS!!! Do you? lololol
Have a super week and make someone smile! Do something special and kinda sneaky! It's fun!