Cliffhangers

Today was interesting.. from my own perspective it included a little bit of everything, most importantly adventure.

It all started before sunrise, when I literally hopped out into the morning chill and walked over to get a copy of the paper for the bus ride. I then went to the bus turnaround, where they'd told us to be at 7:00 a.m., when the buses would depart. When I got there, I only saw about ten people waiting. By 7, only a couple more had showed up, and I had a hard time believing that was the whole contingent. There seemed to be a little confusion at first, but then two buses pulled up around 7:20, and we were rolling by right around 7:30, as the sun crept a little higher in the sky and started to bathe eastern Massachusetts in morning glow.

The trip down to New Haven took about two and a half hours, street driving and traffic included. After some skillful bus maneuvering, we pulled up onto one of the practice fields and disembarked. About five minutes later, the barbecue was already going and a whole assortment of beverages (some clearly designed for much later in the day) had been laid out on folding tables that were hastily set up, since at least a few of those on the bus ride just couldn't wait to start drinking (not that any of these were alcoholic drinks...). Not wanting to waste any time, I decided to quickly head over to the stadium to get a ticket. I walked right up to a ticket booth and had a ticket for $6 within a few seconds. I walked back towards the tailgate grinning to myself. A game like this one - and football for six bucks - really ain't all that bad for a Saturday afternoon.

About an hour later, I found myself giving myself a self-guided tour of the Yale campus, right there in downtown New Haven. Very nice, but I felt like I was at a transplanted Olde English university from quite some time ago, especially with the curved wooden doors and the ring-pull doorknobs and the gothic windows and architecture and all that stuff. Some of it actually reminded me of the scenery at Disneyland's "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride," so that was a fun little bit of nostalgia triggered on the little tour. I saw a lot of different places in not a lot of time - a crash course, if you will, but still with plenty of action.

Did I mention that en route to downtown New Haven I totally just ran into a sectionmate of mine from last year (and a Yalie), a quasi-colleague and college schoolmate of mine, and, most surprisingly of all, a classmate of mine from GRADE SCHOOL and high school (and a Yalie) who I have always counted among my favorite people. That was really something.

I found myself back at the stadium just before kickoff. I had a feeling it was gonna be a good game. As I settled into my not-so-cushioned seat in the wooden bench-style stands with blue paint chipping off, I noticed it was starting to get colder even though the sun was still high in the sky (it was a visually beautiful day, by all accounts). I had wondered earlier in the day if I really needed all my layers, but by then I was thankful that I had "overdone" it a little and had at least a little thermostatic control. First half saw Yale outplay Harvard. Second half was just plain wild. Harvard was looking at a 21-3 deficit at one point. Mistakes and big plays and timely offense on both teams led to a 24 point tie as time expired. Overtime had a little of everything: missed field goals, fumbles, interceptions.. and then a capping run that sealed the deal.

Personally, I think the bagpipes had something to do with it. For most of overtime, I was standing in the back row, about even with the South goal line on the eastern side of the stadium, over near the Harvard student section. There was this guy with bagpipes about 30 feet to my left, also standing. A few people in the crowd kept urging him to keep playing the bagpipes, apparently seeing it as a sign of good luck that would carry over to the team down on the field. So he would pipe up, the crowd below would look back and start cheering, and then hopefully something good would happen. It was working decently well for a while, until he decided to put away the bagpipes. One guy a few rows down wanted them to stay out, though, concerned about the outcome of the game. So the guy took the bagpipes out, put them back together, and started playing, which generated even louder cheers from the crowd in the stands below, who wanted nothing more than a good luck charm. On third and goal, in what turned out to be triple overtime, the guy with the bagpipes went into a passionate solo, no doubt spreading his good will this time. Harvard ran the tailback Dawson right up the gut into the north end zone for the score and the 30-24 win. The fans stormed the field. I even stormed the field and got as far as the 50 yard line (of course, safety first - I waited until after the first few waves had made their way down, and then I followed. Plenty of room to move around). But before I went down there to celebrate like the kid I still consider myself in so many different ways despite my growing responsibilities, I turned to thank the guy with the bagpipes. He smiled and laughed. His hands had been cold. His lungs had probably been tired. But he kept with it, kept the air flowing and the music soaring, and his team came out with a win.

The game made me really miss my old days of broadcasting. Those were some fun times.

Now there is so much to be taken care of, as preparations must be made and assignments must be completed and practice must be contemplated and strategies must be implemented and learning must be effectuated and rest must be sought out almost relentlessly...

Until next time, I will appreciate what I have observed.. today all my senses were totally engaged, and it felt like something special