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In Memory of Summer Break 2012

August 18th, 2012

Summer Break 2012, May – August 2012, Memorial services to be held by teachers and students daily, for the next nine months all around East Texas. Summer came and left us (as she usually does), abruptly this year. Knowing her has been a rich and rewarding experience. She played hard to get through June, allowing us the rain and cool moisture we had missed the preceding year. As such, we mostly stayed indoors reading (and enjoying our lower energy bills), as well as attending events like Vacation Bible School. In July we she began coming around a bit more but remained somewhat standoff-ish, so we busied ourselves with visiting the Tyler Zoo, or other area outdoor venues, like Lindsey Field or Rose Rudman. Still, we knew she couldn’t stay away indefinitely.

By August, as if sensing that her time was short, her visits became longer, and more intense. We felt her warmth in the stands at the Ball Park, and at the pool. We even tried to put a little distance between us by ducking into local museums, and movie theaters. At the end of the day, we watched the Summer Olympic Games on TV and enjoyed our time with her, all the while, wishing the bliss wouldn’t end so suddenly. But of course it did. The time has come for us all to return to the classroom, some as teachers, some as students, but all with vivid recollections of Summer 2012. Goodbye Vacation. I look forward to meeting your predecessor in 2013.

The Summer Break is survived by the coming of Autumn, the fall football season, post- season Baseball, including the Ranger, (make the sign of the cross here), and the coming of cooler weather. The end of the Spring, Winter and the 2011 School year preceded her in passing.  

A Weekend of Heartache for Texas Sports Fans

October 11th, 2010
Rangers Game Cowboys Stadium

Cowboys Stadium

Ok let’s just say it; this past weekend was a disaster for Texas Sports fans. I had the pleasure of attending the Ranger’s game on Sunday, and after watching them lose game four (and possibly the series); I had the displeasure of hearing the Cowboys gift wrap their game for Tennessee, while I was riding home to Tyler. And not only did our beloved Dallas franchises take it on the chin, but the Houston Texans managed to drop their game to the New York Giants. Oh I just love to lose competitions to that humble city! Even my Fantasy team lost this week! If I had to look high and low for a Texas victory this weekend, (and I did) I could always look to Texas Tech who defeated their opponent 45-38. Of course they were playing Baylor! So I guess that works out to a tie for most of us.

The whole day (Sunday) started out so perfectly that as I reflect back on it, it’s still hard to believe it all went so wrong! My friends and family and I drove up early Sunday morning. It was a beautiful autumn day, and as we strolled past that beautiful Cowboy’s stadium toward the Ball Park, surrounded by devotees of both teams, it was difficult not to be optimistic. Little did we foresee the long trip home that awaited us just three and a half hours later.

Of all the weekend’s losses the Ranger’s was the hardest to take. But Texas has one last chance to steal back the series tomorrow night. And Cliff Lee will get his chance to add his name to the list of the state’s sports heroes. I confess I’m not overly optimistic, but a win Tuesday could still redeem the weekend, because (as a friend pointed out) should we advance I have every intention telling anyone who’ll listen that “I was at that series!” I just won’t make a point of saying which game.

Rangers Field Outside

Rangers Ball Park

Ultimately the weekend wasn’t a total loss. I took my son to the first Rangers playoff series in over ten years. A Texas Towel now hangs on his bedroom wall, and for a few days he’s reverted from playing almost solely football back to baseball. All indications are that his attention will be back on the Cowboys and football by the end of the week, but for at least one more game, the Rangers are in the playoffs!