Just Wow

-

The excitement was too much around Camp Clifford all day on Saturday.

The boys (including my nephew John) were fired up!

The Bills were set to battle their longtime nemesis - the Patriots at the Ralph in 5 degree temperatures.

I thought about going to the same stadium for an AFC championship game against the Raiders back in the day.

Nervous but absolutely insane with excitement.

My role has changed!

I kept reminding the boys that I wouldn’t go to the stadium and sit outside unless someone paid me $5 grand.

Funny what time does!

So, I played my new role.

Made food, warned them about the hazards of frostbite, mentioned that they needed to be careful about drinking too much and getting home.

Yeah.

Mother hen!

And then the game started and this Bills team was every bit as good as that Bills team that beat the Raiders 51 to 3 to go to their first super bowl ever.

Just an awesome display in every way. They could do nothing wrong. 

New England looked like the team the Bills might scrimmage against before the season started.

And the boys, of course, were on cloud 9 where they will certainly remain all week.

I remember that excitement too.

Waiting for the next game.

Of course, the 90’s Bills never completely finished the job.

Maybe these kids can.

Would certainly be amazing for the city and especially for my boys.

It brings a smile to my face, but damn, I can’t get that excitement back.

As the Bills trounced them last night all I kept thinking was:

“Get home safely!”

Then I thought about the game AFTER the Bills over the Raiders.

They lost in the Super Bowl.

Lost 4 straight times in that damn game.

And the pain of that was all-consuming.

Funny thing about those roles…

…I don’t want my kids to feel that!

But, then again, after that beat-down…

…maybe they won’t have to.

Hard to imagine that Josh Allen WON’T be accepting the trophy as the confetti falls down because…

…Wow…

…that was something.

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