Here We Go Austin! Here We Go!!

-
Ever since October when Sam stood, on the verge of tears, asking me to give him my credit card info for the tickets to the NCAA games in Buffalo, I knew that this week in March was going to be special.

Way more special than Christmas for him!

And it hasn't disappointed at all.

On Tuesday the Grape Apes assembled to pick teams out of the hat so we could bet a little. Choosing teams on a scrap of paper was my brother Jeff's idea and I swear to God, my heart doubles in size when I hear the first good friend walk through the door at 7 p.m. on the Tuesday before the tourney picks.

Thank you Jeff, Pops, Johnny (and the beautiful girls), Millie, Chuck...and Sam....for keeping that alive. Sam has stood in Jeff's spot and let me tell you, he feels the spirit. He talks the same smack as Jeff. He makes us laugh too. He loves the tourney as much as his Uncle did.

Just as much.

Matt accompanied Sam to the four games on Thursday and it pained me to be at work instead of in the seat beside him, but that had been the plan all along. I would get the Saturday games.

"We got to see two close games, 'Cuse and 'Nova', he texted me. "All in all a great day. Thank you for getting me the tickets!"

I saw that text at 6 a.m. in a hotel room on Friday morning.

So Friday was a quest to get home and watch some games.

Yet the work day continued. I arrived at 7:30 p.m. I was just in time for two more sessions of games. Sam was in prime shape.

"I'll work the remote so we don't miss the end of any games," he said.

Then he stood up, off to the side of the television, and hooted and hollered his way through every play.

By 10:30 p.m. my eyes were getting droopy.

"You gonna' make it all the way to the end?" he asked.

Considering the last game wasn't slated to begin until 11:15...it looked doubtful.

"Come on!" he said. "Throw in a pizza and get ready! HERE WE GO AUSTIN! HERE WE GO!!"

Damn if that wasn't Jeff.

Living the excitement.

Feeling every second of it.

Coaxing me to join him.

Have some fun!

I put the pizza in the oven and asked him to keep the pom-poms at mid-level, but we watched the games through the start of the very last one.

"These are the best two days of the year," Sam said.

Seems I'd heard those words before.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Buddy, Dave

-
Way back in 1997, I started working with a steel erection company out of Syracuse. I was coming straight from a long stint with a steel erector here in Buffalo so I knew my stuff when it came to steel erection safety rules. On day one, I met with the safety director and he was just getting started as a safety guy, but man, he certainly cared about the guys he worked with. Dave was a good man from the start. He’d say things like: “You’re so full of beans.” Just a down to earth, hardworking guy who became a fast friend. We drove all around New York State setting up jobs. I always let Dave drive so that I could rest. One fine day, way up North of Syracuse, we passed a state trooper.  I glanced at the speedometer. “You’re screwed,” I said, and seconds later, the lights came on. Dave was beside himself.  The cop stopped by the window, grabbed the license and registration and headed back to his vehicle. “Here’s the thing,” I said. “You’re pissed, but you’re such a good guy that I be...
Read more

Mom & Ollie

-
Image
 Ollie Stadium is a mess. The heavy rains rendered the backyard a mud pit and even though we threw in the side yard, the Big O was looking for more, and we were both covered in mud. I had to take some steam out of him somehow so I suggested we go visit Grandma. Ollie hates the car, but he laid quietly as we made the trip. We even brought the football because there is plenty of room to play at Grandma’s. Mom opened the door and started laughing. I thought about the love she had for every single dog we ever had. Oliver was quick to give my Mom a kiss, and then he stood beside her. The love between Mom and Dogs is a mutual bond. Through the years, Mom would make breakfast for the dogs.  Fried eggs, toast, bacon… She would wrap Christmas gifts for them. “To Jeter, Love Santa,” she would write on the cards. They played with the big chicken that made a lot of noise. Mom tossed the football and Ollie brought it back to her. As the visit drew to a close I headed for the door.  “C...
Read more

Eyes on the Horizon

-
Image
My sister’s book is out there! Go get it!! It makes me so proud to see the book on Amazon, knowing that it’s very, very great! It’s been a long, long time since we were out in California, brainstorming my stories long before they were published. Carrie Lynn was writing, writing and writing some more through the years and I kept telling her… …”Go for it!” Well, she did!  To amazing results. Of course I was able to read the book as it was being put together, but I ordered a copy from Amazon yesterday and can’t wait to read it again. The shoe is on the other foot now as I have been sitting on a lot of my writing lately. I plan on getting it out there before the end of 2024, but for now: Carrie takes center stage! And it’s so great… …go get a copy!
Read more