10 August 2024
I slept late again this morning, for more than 8 hours. As I got to stirring, I noticed three text messages on my phone. When I opened the texts, Holley informed me in no uncertain terms she would be taking me to my surgery to remove my port on Tuesday. I knew better than to argue with her – I would have lost. I didn’t ask anyone to take me but I did call Tom and ask him to pick me up and take me home. I have a very strong suspicion those two have been conversing and plotting behind my back. I was going to take an Uber to the surgery but I appreciate Holley’s insistence. Again, what great friends!
My back is better and I’m learning better how to adjust the back brace. I haven’t felt well all day. I don’t know if it’s the blahs or if something is off with me. I got a very late start with stripping the bed and washing clothes and as of this writing (6:00 pm) I’m still washing and drying. My stamina is down and I don’t think I’ve completely recovered from 3 nights in the hospital.
Preseason professional football is in full swing today. I used to only follow particular pro teams (Miami, of course, Chicago and San Francisco). Since college football has become what I refer to as semi-pro, I tend to follow pro football more.
We are a long cry from the days I worked the concession stand at the Morton High School football games (Go Panthers!) and then following Ole Miss football in the 60’s. I remember my first Ole Miss home game. All the men wore coats and ties and the women wore dresses. Someone, perhaps Sports Illustrated, named Ole Miss as the best dressed football crowd. Back then, the women wore dresses because they could not wear pants anywhere on campus. They also had to sign in and out of the dorm. The 50’s and 60’s were the glory days of Ole Miss, never until last year to be as successful.
I still can’t watch Ole Miss on tv. Too often in the past few decades they’ve disappointed. It’s silly of course. Football shouldn’t be so important to me but I am a child of my upbringing. I remember listening to Ole Miss football games as a kid with my Dad. The U.S. puts so much importance on that sport. You didn’t even have to play football (I didn’t). You could be a band member or you could be a cheerleader. All were status positions in high school and college. By the way, concessionaire was not a status position but I could make a mean load of popcorn. My culinary skills got an early start.
One year, I remember Morton had added new lights to the football field. The Boy Scouts managed the concession stand so our assistant scoutmaster, John Stokes always kept an eye on us and on any trouble makers. When they threw the switch for the new lights, sparks flew everywhere. No one reacted except John Stokes. He was a very big man and very heavy set but he ran toward the control panel at a very fast pace and in one swipe, shut the lights off. He risked electrocution in doing that. I’ve always thought that was one of the most brave things I’ve seen. He didn’t think of himself, only of others that might be hurt.
We called him Sargeant Stokes because at the time, he was still in the Army. His role was to round up AWOL soldiers anywhere in the surrounding states. That had to be a pretty dangerous job. I learned a lot from this man. He often let me make mistakes so I could learn the correct procedure. He had an amazing amount of patience with me and the other scouts. A lot of what I am today, he helped mold. I will forever be grateful.
Stay tuned!
