Report from the practice field
It’s been a few weeks since I last submitted an article. You may – but probably don’t – recall in that column I explained about a turtle named “Meatwad” and talked about the origin of that unusual word. I ended the column by asking anyone who already knew where the word came from raise their hand and that anyone who saw someone with their hand in the air write and let me know about it, so that we could engage in a little post-article research.
I expected the response to be small — but not none. So, I’ve been spending a lot of my free time lately analyzing that lack of evidence in an attempt to determine if it indicates that no one raised their hand – or that no one saw them – or that whoever saw them didn’t have access to a computer E2 or didn’t bother to reply because I didn’t offer some token or treat to respondents – or just didn’t respond because they chose to exercise their right not to participate in research.
At one point a few weeks ago my frustration level was so high over trying to figure this out that I decided to take my tent, my generator, my compact refrigerator and my laptop and head off to parts unknown to see if fresh air and the night sky would lead me to the answers I sought. Unfortunately, I was only out there in the semi-darkness listening to the semi-gentle hum of the generator for about 15 minutes when my mind became completely consumed with thoughts of global warming and its potential effect on the Flags of Freedom.
Instead of finding inspiration for my research I found myself jotting down a few quick notes to Al Gore and Keith Cain and breaking camp to head back across the yard and into the house. Somewhere near the patio, I lost the notes and by morning, I had completely forgotten about both issues. But others have since picked up on those so, like any good research scientist, I’m staying with this meatwad research until I find some quantifiable (more or less) answers – or until the study’s funding runs out. But, not tonight.
Our granddaughter turned 8 today. Last night, she and her little brother and their dad were visiting, and when it came time for them to leave, my stepson turned to his mom and said “Just think, when we wake up in the morning, she’ll be halfway to a driver’s license.” Wow!
And, we celebrated another birthday, of sorts tonight: 220 years ago today Congress passed the Bill of Rights.
Tonight we had pork chops from the grill, our family recipe pasta salad (courtesy of Chef Andy Dye) and Oreo ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. There were presents for Savanna: There weren’t any for the Bill of Rights, but I do plan to spend a little quiet time with them in honor of their birthday when I finish this column. From this desk, I can turn my chair and reach my copy of the Constitution on the shelf directly behind me.
But, for all of the celebrating, there is some sadness tonight in missing the last of a long run of football games – for a while at least – between Princeton and Kewanee. I’ve attended a lot of those games over the 40 years – yes, 40 years – since I walked out of Visitation Grade School and crossed the threshold as a freshman at Kewanee High. The games have been particularly fun over the past 15 years, when I felt like I couldn’t lose — wearing the hats of a Princetonian and KHS grad at the same time.
My baby sister, who still lives in Kewanee, sent me a text a while ago and said she had left the game because Princeton was winning big, and it was cold and damp. So, now I’m thinking of an RSS feed I saw earlier tonight from the Kewanee paper which carried the headline the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry, Illinois National Guard unit from Kewanee had arrived back on U.S. soil from Afghanistan via Germany, and I’m wondering if any of the folks from Princeton are wondering why the folks in Kewanee are cheering despite the football score tonight. Everybody in Kewanee has reason to cheer tonight and it has nothing to do with football.
Postscript: I left the happy thoughts of football that I typed last night in the column as a contrast to the news this morning that Princeton brought home a trophy last night but left behind the pride that usually goes with that trophy and series. Well, at least I’ve got some memories of some great football over the years and because of Savanna and the Bill of Rights, I missed out on the “bitter taste” the PHS coaches are expressing in the morning paper. Not quite a reason to celebrate, but in an unusual twist, missing the big game did make yesterday a better day.
Terry Madsen resides in Princeton. He can be reached at thepracticefield@comcast.net.
