The Pep Rally

-

We started a show on Netflix.

Something about high school football. We didn’t make it through the first episode but they mentioned the ‘pep rally’.

It brought back a memory.

I played one year of ⚽️ soccer. 

Hated every minute of it. 

(Even scored an own goal).

We had a pep rally.

I recall the pep rally in full color memory because that year (I was a freshman) I had a brand new, huge crush on a girl.

She was going to be there, along with the entire school, and I was going to be in full uniform as a member of the team that everyone came to cheer.

Sure I was seldom-used, but it was the first game of the year.

No one knew that.

There was a huge bonfire. 🔥 

A loudspeaker 📢 and the entire school body 🏫 was there.

Including my crush 😻 who was front and center as they began to announce the players.

We were lined up in alphabetical order so I didn’t have to wait too long to catch the soccer ball on my right foot and make a quick circle ⭕️ trip around the bonfire 🔥.

“AT FORWARD, CLIFF….”

I took off running…balancing the ball perfectly and pushing it in front of me as if I knew how to play the stupid sport.

I looked straight at HER and her smiling eyes 👀 was the last thing I saw before I tripped.

Well, I didn’t really trip.

One of my teammates (and a good buddy too) kicked the back of my right foot….

…which made contact with my left foot.

The ball wound up in the 🔥 fire.

My face, chest and knees all ended up in the dirt and a roar of laughter echoed in my head.

“Cliff lost his footing,” the Coach announced.

I’m not quite sure how long my face was in the dirt, but eventually I had to get up…

…didn’t I?

Know who helped me up?

No! Not her!!

She was laughing too hard to be of any help.

The guy who tripped me!!

“That was perfect,” he wailed, through waves of laughter.

“You all right?”

I stood up slowly. Brushed the dirt off.

Another teammate was making his way around the fire.

My crush was clapping for him. 

She was still laughing.

At me.

That’s what I think of when ‘Pep Rally’ is mentioned.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Suits

-
Like a lot of other people we got pulled into the series, ‘Suits’ on Netflix. I’ve never had much fun hanging around lawyers who have questioned me as a construction safety officer. I once testified in a case where the opposing lawyer started questioning me by going through my educational background. “So,” he said, racing to a crescendo, “You graduated from college with a degree in Communications-Journalism and suddenly, 30 years later, you’re a ‘safety expert.’” He actually made the quotation marks with his fingers. I just looked at him. “How does that happen?” He bellowed, sure that he was going to discredit me. “Well,” I said. “I knew I was overqualified to become a lawyer.” The courtroom erupted in laughter. Even the judge chuckled. The rest of his questions landed flat. So, I wasn’t all that keen on a show about lawyers, but ‘Suits’ is great. Meghan Markle became a princess because of the show, and she is very good in it (and a beautiful woman). Yet, there is so much more. The wri
Read more

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 bet you tha
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’mon, Oliver,”
Read more