Wow

Well, nothing like a 6 year old, 3 ten year olds, an eleven year old and a thirteen year old girl at a birthday party to make you run like hell to the deck outside.

Actually, it was kinda fun, they even broke into a spontaneous conga line. It was a Halloween themed party, as is usually the case for Brenna's birthdays. One little girl came dressed up like a grandma. She looked like Vickie Lawrence in Mama's Family. She, of course, had no idea who that was, but I am sure her mom or whoever did her costume did. She had a huge bossom and a really big butt. It was the best costume I have seen on a kid in a long time.

Brenna got art supplies, some girly things - barrettes, "make-up" a few toys and a brand new bicycle. Unfortunately my niece sent her husband and his dad to pick up the bike in his dad's truck. They did not see a smaller bike like my niece described, and brought home a 26" bike which was too big for the 10 year old.

Well, turns out little Savannah, 6, is having a soccer game tommorrow. I am going to take the Jeep down so we can take the bike and exchange it for one Brenna's size, and then we are going to watch the soccer game.

Well, my niece made a jello brain and had gummi eyeballs in the girls drinking glasses - eeeeeeeew.

The kids were actually a lot of fun.

Mom and I left, and headed to the gridiron - that is a football field, fyi... at my alma mater.

We arrived at the bottom of the 2nd, and Dixie was down 27 to 3 - ouch --especially on homecoming.

Dixie now has a show band or something like that - I am not much for bands, but it was different than the regular marching band - and it was odd because they were not wearing the school colors - red and grey - they were in sharp uniforms, but they were black with an orange triangle and a white stripe. The performance was not great, and the girls with the fake guns didn't seem to know what they were suppose to be doing.

It was a sureal experience, being back at that football field after 28 years away.

The field was officially named after Chief, aka Coach Brown, so that was cool. The bleachers, press box and track was all new. The bleachers had a ramp, a nice wide metal walkway and, the clincher folks, there were metal gates blocking the access to under the bleachers. It didn't look like you could slip through the gaps between the seats and footboards, either. Not a single drunk, or stoner, under those bleachers.

I hate it when time honored traditions hit the dust. I didn't see any stoners loitering in the parking lot either. Man, high school has changed.

Well, Mr. Keener, band and choir director extrodinaire, who was the band director during Bruce's high school days, (he came in 1964, left in the late 70's, then came back and finally retired) Well, he came to the game as guest conductor, in memory of Bruce. He looks great, and it was really cool to see him up there waving his arms about. He led our kids to a large number of first place victories in band and choir competitions. A bit of a legend, as was Coach Brown.

It was really a weird feeling when the marching band, complete with alumni band members for the tribute to Bruce, came out playing the Dixie fight song. I was awash with nostalgia. They were good, even with the old people. Plenty of bald heads and grey hair. I did not really expect such a reaction to the football fight song, but there it was, and I started clapping like a trained seal.

Dixie has a tradition of setting a white drum on the 50 yard line to honor a former band member's passing. I think it is a nice tribute. It was sad in a way, to see that lone drum sitting there, half way between Mr. Keener and the band.

Well, I gotta say, it is freaking weird to see middle aged people who look like they gobbled up your 17 year old classmates.

I encountered this several times, and admonished myself for not digging out the yearbook and taking a refresher course. I knew some of those middle aged people, I am sure of it. One of them gave me one of those looks in return. He was probably 50 pounds heavier and, well 28 years older, but I am sure we graduated together.

Getting old I suppose.

Well, nostalgia and team spirit overcame me and I ordered a school sport jacket. I can pick it up in just over a week. Somewhere, I have my high school jacket with my varsity D on it. I hope I have it somewhere...

Anyway, when we left half way through the 3rd quarter, it was 41 to 3. Our boys were getting mopped up. Some of those kids from Waynesville looked like they were junior college sized. Waynesville is a bigger school and I was shocked we were even playing them, we never did when I was in school. Dixie must have changed divisions or ratings or something.

The lady that was in charge of the jacket and shirt table teaches business classes to the high schoolers. Imagine that, Dixie with a business class. Turns out they have a bunch of business classes, including a basic law class! We've come a long way baby.

Hey, the track is no longer that ankle breaking cinders and is now one of those spiffy - and environmentally icky, spongy type surfaces. Looks sharp as hell. I hated running in those black cinders and when you fell, ouch. I ran (okay tried to run the 220 relay when I was in school). I was a little bullet, until about 3rd grade, when the anatomy began the slow slide into puberty. In first and second grade I could win against any classmate, boy or girl. Those were my glory years.

Dixie also has a preschool and head start program!!!!! Wowsie, did not expect that. I may investigate that as my internship site for the anthro degree. Unpaid, but hey, it is my school...well, it is next to where my school was. I'll never see that 4th grade drinking fountain that was too tall for me when I was in fourth grade. Sonya, a bigger than usual 4th grader, would pick me up so I could get a drink. If she were not around, I had to walk all the way to the first and second grade hall to get a drink. NO Kidding... I was little, hence my mom calling me "half-pint." I didn't catch up until the summer before my freshman year.

Ok, off to bed to rest up for a wee soccer game.