10.31.10
BUSY FALL IN ALABAMA
First of all, I can’t believe September and October have just scooted by me! What happened to life slowing down a little after school starts? Seems it is just the opposite these days.
FOOTBALL: This is one area that has been on everyone’s mind and kept us busy this fall. Alabama is just a football State, that’s the best way to sum it up. After UA won the National Championship last season, anticipation and expectations have been really high this season. I was told by our son this week that his Dad and Mom were the only two people he knew that cheered for both University of Alabama and Auburn University! Seems everyone else in Alabama chooses sides. Boy does it get hot even between Facebook Friends, especially a day or two before the next game. I like to think that most of it is just good fun, but sometimes I wonder. The closer the date comes for both teams to play each other tempers really get touchy, sometimes down right ugly! I can’t understand this. We have two great Universities with some of the best athletes in the Country, yet a good number of Alabamians cheer for an out of state team rather than cheer for the opposing in-state team. When they play each other, there is little of, “May the Best Team Win,” sportsmanship, but a, “Fight to the End,” attitude. Some people even seem glad when a team player gets hurt and taken out of the game, especially if the athlete is an important one for winning. I guess it may help to be an alumni member of both universities in order to cheer for both during football season. But to me it just seems a natural thing to do, alumni or not. This is probably the same in many states, but very noticeable in Alabama! Just a few more weekends of football left. I say, “May the best team win and good luck to both teams.”
Aside from the college level football games, we have enjoyed the Little League teams and the Pee-Wee games. One of our grandsons made two touchdowns in one game. His team won by two touchdowns. He could hardly walk straight after because his head was so big. He was so excited and proud of himself. We were proud as well. That’s been a dream of his since he was two years old. He’s now nine years old and it’s the first time his has played on a Little League team. We also enjoyed watching our two great-nieces (sisters) cheer for their Pee-Wee team. They were so cute and did a great job cheering at such young ages.
POLITICS: Well I know this is a nation wide battle right now. Every commercial time on TV is filled with this or that politician either asking for our vote or talking down the opponent candidate. I’d much rather listen for the pleas for my vote. Most of the political talk during this mid-term election has been conservatives verses liberals, Republicans verses Democrats rather than issues. There’s been more debates, cookouts, town meetings, etc. this year than I can remember, even on the local level. Seems the effort to replace Democrats with Republican candidates is more serious than ever. It’s almost like the issue has been to get rid of one party and vote the other one in regardless of the actual candidate and what they stand for. Here again, I have my own way of cheering for the team. For those that ask for my vote rather than talk down the opposing candidate, I try to listen and gather what real information is out there. Usually if they ask for the vote, they also tell you why they feel they are worthy of the vote and some information about who they are, their experiences, beliefs, important issues to them, etc. I pretty much vote out the candidates that allow negative ads against their opponent because these ads also tell me that the person running these negative ads is in fact a negative thinking person. We need positive thinking people in office. I like positive, all the way. One of my favorite sayings is, “The power is in the positive.” That’s the candidate I vote for; mine will not be a straight ticket, but hopefully a totally positive ticket. The election is right around the corner. I still need to spend some time researching the really positive verses the negative.
HOLIDAYS: Halloween begins the start of the holiday season with harvest festivals, church activities and other ways to usher in fall and the holidays. It starts with the candy at Halloween and we continue to snack on Trick or Treat goodies until Thanksgiving or the candy runs out. Then we have the great week of Thanksgiving which means more family time, celebrations at church and in the community and plenty of eating turkey, dressing and all the trimmings. By the end of Thanksgiving week, it’s time to get the last of the Christmas shopping done. I may run off a little of the new weight I’ve gained thus far with some of the shopping, but not nearly enough. Then the Christmas parties start from every club and organization we’re involved in. December usually has at least two parties a week. This keeps December very busy with lots of activity and more and more eating. Then the Christmas meal brings on more ham, turkey, dressing and all the trimmings. Who can resist? By the time New Year’s is over I have usually gained about ten pounds and face the “Lose the Weight” New Year resolution. I truly think that even with the best efforts, this trend is why people usually slowly add ten or more pounds permanently for every decade they live. At least it seems that way for me. But I don’t mean to sound completely negative. I’m learning how to cook and eat healthier even when it’s a party or other celebration. It can be done by varying the traditional recipes or what we serve altogether. And it is still delicious and fun!
This year these three things have made Fall a very busy time in Alabama and will continue to be through the rest of the year. It is for me the busiest time of the year, but I love it. The weather is cooler but not yet the dead of winter and there are plenty of friends and family to enjoy along with the activities. It starts with a fun time for fall, a Thanksgiving time for our harvest and blessings, a celebration time for the birth of Jesus Christ, and a new start for the New Year. What other time of the year offers all this? Busy, yes, but also good for friends, family and good for our own soul.
Written Oct. 28, 2010
Peggy Williams
