“Sweet Caroline….Good times never seem so good”
No matter how many times I tell the Coach and my kids that it was “cool to be in the band” at my high school, I still get the eye roll. Not a roll-back-in-your-head eye roll, but more of a raised eyebrow accompanied by a smirk eye roll. Ah, what do they know, anyway? One of my favorite marching band shows was our tribute to Neil Diamond (followed closely by the Pink Panther and Chicago). I haven’t stopped humming “Sweet Caroline” since I read this morning that Diamond finally that the inspiration for his song, “Sweet Caroline,” was President Kennedy’s daughter, Caroline. The no. 1 hit was penned years after seeing a photograph of her in her riding boots next to her pony. I didn’t know it was a closely guarded secret. Keeping it quiet all these years made the revelation all that more sweeter. Caroline’s youth was my youth. And this week as we head home to families (except those still in the play-offs), you can’t help reflecting on the past and simpler times.
). By the time, we played in the state final game, we were on the 5-yard line, 20 rows up and five sweaters deep. Last week, we were involved in one of those “end-of-season-both-teams-must-win” situations to make the play-offs, which meant a huge crowd. Normally, the huge crowd would have boosted my enthusiasm, but all I could think about was - that meant more trash. In an effort to teach my kids “how to work” I volunteered to clean the stadium (we did get paid). It was a humbling experience - that’s all I have to say. So, in an effort to educate crowds heading out tonight to support their teams, here are some hints to make the cleaning crew happy come Saturday morning. 1. Throw out your trash 2. If you can’t throw it out, leave it in the stands. Sliding it through the bleachers so you don’t have to see it anymore is death for cleaning crews. There are ants down there, licking their chops waiting for their next soggy bowl of nachos to make their way down and who are still there Saturday morning when someone reaches down to pick it up and throw it out! And, they hurt! There’s also a great number of metal bars that get in the way when you stand up and unwittingly smack your forehead against, and you subsequently blurt out something that you have to explain to your 10-year-old who you originally signed up to teach a lesson. 3. If you are trying to quit smoking, good for you! However, since you will be chewing nicotine gum or something similar, and I imagine, you will be chewing a great deal of it, find something else to do instead of wrapping it up in the 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch wrappers they come in and chunking them over the stands. 4. Sunflower seeds, peanuts — I love ‘em. They are an exception to rule no. 2. All kidding aside, as I looked at the field Saturday evening (I finished the last game by myself — basketball scrimmages and birthday parties) I took pride in my work. The long day gave me time to think, time to exercise (bending, bending and more bending) and it gave me time to think of the fresh start. A season completed, also means that its time to look forward to the next season. And that always brings hope. Losing is the pits. And putting away the equipment for the year always depresses the Coach. But he always looks forward to pulling it out again next year. It’s what keeps him going. Good luck in the play-offs, but remember not to mess with Texas (or a Texas Coaches wife) 
