TERRY
There is nothing new about Terry. I do think she is sleeping somewhat better but still I know there are times during the night that she is awake. We will try the walker today to see how far she can go.
September 14, 1962
The alarm on my clock radio goes off at 6:15, fifteen minutes earlier than usual. It is a BIG day and I can hardly wait. I take just a few minutes to think. A year ago, as a freshman, the first game of the football season was exciting but nothing like today. Last year I was a sub waiting to go into the game IF we got a lead. I got to play enough last year so that I earned my letter but this is a new year and I will be a starter! Bob Z and I will be the ends as we line up against Milnor in a home game this Friday. I think back to last year. We had a very good team that finished with a 5-2 record. The highlight of the season was a resounding defeat of Tintah by the score of 75-0. I got to go in for Chuck K at end and played most of the second half. I did not catch a pass but I felt I shined on defense! The lowlight of the season was being shut out by Lidgerwood by a score of 0-20. But my thoughts in bed then went back to today. Milnor was coming to Sargent Central for an afternoon game and I was so excited to be in the starting lineup that I could hardly contain myself. I did not know at the time that I would be able to start every game in the next three years of high school and in doing that I put my stamp of "defensive player" in the score book and in the paper. I climbed out of bed and stumbled over my duffle bag. I had packed it the night before and then had checked it several times to be sure I had everything. I actually was kind of rude to Mom as she had forgotten to wash the nicest socks. Well we did NOT have a fancy washing machine so I had rinsed them out in the sink and hung them up to dry. I checked socks (I always wore 2 pair, one thin and one heavy), I had my favorite T shirt that I wore under my shoulder pads and jersey and yes there was a supporter too (I didn't know what that was a couple years ago) and lastly my jersey was in the bag. Coach Hanson had allowed the starters from last year to pick their jersey and then next were the players who would start this year but had not started last year. I was able to pick #18 which I wore for three years. I hurried downstairs with my bag and then made sure to get my socks that were hanging up in the entry way. I still was not used to getting out of bed and getting to school without Dave. He had graduated the spring before and had headed out for a "new life" right after graduation. It just seemed strange that I would go to bed, get up in the morning and head out to school without him. Now it was Helen and I. Helen was in the 7th grade so she got off the bus in Cayuga as the high school kids stayed on and headed to Forman each day. Mom had a big smile on her face as she mentioned that she made pancakes for me this morning as she knew I wanted a good breakfast for game day. Every once in a while I sit back and wonder what it would have been like if Dad and Mom had come to my games. I think in high school I played about 100 games between football and basketball and not once did they see me play. I thought so myself if Mom could see me tackle she would know how much I loved football! The bus arrived in Forman about 9:05 and when I got off the bus I saw Bob, Dick and Gary with their jerseys on. Dick said coach Hanson said we could wear our game jerseys for the day so I stepped into the bathroom and changed shirts. When I came out I am sure my chest was kind of puffed out and my step was kind of high as now I was a starter on the varsity team and proud of it. I thought maybe I could impress a certain girl but NO! The day dragged on and on but finally 3:30 came and the bell rang. As the players gathered in the locker room coach Hanson said that Milnor had arrived and we would have our hands full today so we needed to play our best. Bob, the other end, came over to me and said he and Jack, the quarterback, had talked and I would get the first chance to catch a touchdown. He said he had started at end last year and they would be looking for him so I would be the go to guy. Well the game was a blow out with a final score of 48-7. I never did get the touchdown pass but IF they had kept track of tackles I think I may have been #1. From that game on defense was my game. On offense I was less than good but on defense you had better not come my way. If you did either I or the linebacker on my side Jack would tackle you for little or no gain and maybe even for a loss!
So my high school football career begin. Defense was always my game. I do not know what the deal was but catching passes was not my thing but put a runner in front of me and he would go down. We went on to post a 5-2 record that season and then next we were in a new conference and tied for first place. As I have posted in the past that earned us a trip to Minneapolis to watch the Vikings play. I will not get into my senior year as it was worse than a disaster. BUT football remained the highlight of my high school years.
Terry and I will settle in on the couch this morning at 9 and watch the final of the Men's French Open. We may not see it all as it would not surprise me if it goes 3 or more hours.
It is Sunday so I have my FP and today doctored it up, as usual on Sunday, with a bit of Irish Cream. Enough for today.
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