"Let's go Fly a Kite" and three humans while we are at it.

So in the picture above, Bert, aka, Marc Wilson has his life in my hands.  He is suspended from the rafters by wires and I'm holding the ropes at the other end.  I had to participate in 12 hours of training, lifting up Marc and others over 200 times before our trainer felt comfortable leaving us alone to run the show.  I was in pain, especially my hands and fingers which felt like I had them pulled apart like an ancient English torture chamber.  

Well my hands are slowly recovering.  Oh my, was I over my head when I agreed to serve as a master flyman for CUTC's performance of Mary Poppins.   4 hours a day, 3 days straight of pulling ropes with lives at the other end wore me out!  Finally last night I had a night off and today my hands aren’t in pain.  It’s a great upper body workout, but painful on the hands.  Of course our grip weakens as we age J

The show is going well.  Despite the potential for a total train wreck, we managed to pull it together and put on a great show.  And truthfully the play is better than the movie so the story is more enjoyable to watch. 

I get to the theater at 5:45 and rehearse all 8 of our flys, then I don’t have to be back on stage until 9 PM.  That’s the end of Act 1 when Mary flies away.  The second act I have 6 flys and they happen about 10 minutes apart.  Two hard ones, one with Miss Andrews who is a large woman and has to be pulled straight up into the lights.  The other with Bert during Step in Time when he swings from side to side (about 30 ft) and does front and back flips in the air (see above photo).   The hard part about Bert’s fly is that I have to land him 3 times on stair cases and I have a split second each swing to decide if he is safe and has his feet under him.  Guess wrong, and he breaks a leg.  So far, my guesses have been good J

In the end, this is just another chapter in my book of life experiences.  Nothing dramatic to share except, I know I'm not as young as I think I am!!

Hanging up the stripes

So I think today is a milestone for me.  Way back in 1976 I became a licensed official in the state of Illinois.  Today is the first day I have not been officially registered as an official in the State.  I counted once, I think I was at over 4500 games officiated.  Most of those were intramural, park district or summer camp games.  But over 2000 of those were high school games of some sort.  It's been fun, it's been a great challenge, it has been rewarding, both spiritually and financially, but I think you have to know when it's time to quit, and I know it is now.

I'll be forever thankful to the men and women who mentored me along the way.  I have been fortunate to work the state finals, major tournament championships and exciting regular season games.  I have refereed for men and women who have gone on to successful college and professional careers.  And I have had the pleasure to work for some of the finest men and women coaching on the sidelines as well. I'm thankful I have had these opportunities.  

Best memories, no question, refereeing for Candice Parker was a highlight.  She was certainly the best female athlete to ever play the game in Illinois.  No one could play with her.  I'll never forget the rivalry games either.  St. Joseph and Unity, Central and Centennial, Chrisman and Paris.  All were special games where the fans, players and coaches were involved in every play.

I'll be forever thankful to the men and women I partnered with on court as well.  Referees are a special breed.  Thankless jobs for sure, and the people who don the stripes deserve the respect of all involved in the game.

We are not supposed to play "favorites" however truth be told my favorite place to work has been Uni High in Urbana.  My first varsity game was at Uni.  I was a college senior and Uni played at Huff Gym in those days.  I was as excited as I could be.  For me, this was the state championship.   I couldn't tell you who won, I can't tell you anything about the game, I can just say it was a game I will never forget.  Over the years I've continued to referee at Uni as many times as they have asked me.  For me at least, they represent high school athletics at it's best.  Very few of the kids went on to play in college, although almost every kid went on to successful careers in life.  They always played hard.  The played fair, and they had fun.   They epitomize what sports are about.  So as I look back on my career I'll hold my "favorites" in a special place in my heart.  The coaches, the players and especially the administration, Sally Walker in particular, have always made refereeing at Uni High special.  

Have I missed calls?  Absolutely.  Have I made calls that impacted the outcome of the games?  Hopefully not.  Have I had fun?  No question.  Would I do it again?  In a heartbeat.  

So I'll move to the sideline and become a fan.  And as a fan, I'll have respect for the men and women officiating the games.  I know they work hard to be the best they can.  I know they try to make the right calls.  I know they don't care who wins, but really care about making sure both teams have a chance to win.  I know they love the games.  And hopefully, I know that like me, they are just happy to be involved in the game they love.

Good Friday, a Humbling Day

Easter weekend and Holy Week is always a humbling time.  Last night our church had our Maundy Thursday service.  For those who don't know, Maundy Thursday is a service dedicated to the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples.  Of course it precedes Good Friday, the day Christ was arrested and put on the cross.

I can't help but wake up on Good Friday and begin thinking about what kind of day it must have been for Christ and his disciples.  I have read about it of course, seen it on television and in movies, but I still can't even begin to appreciate the sacrifice he made for us on this day.  It just humbles me that he would put himself up to this kind of torture so that he could save the rest of us.

Then on the Saturday of Holy Week I often think about the mindset of his disciples and his followers.  Here they were, knowing the man they looked to for spiritual guidance, their messiah, had died and was buried in a tomb.  There must have been a true sense of hopelessness and confusion.  They go from the most life changing experience imaginable, following and listening to Christ, to total despair.

Just when they are probably the most convinced their lives have been wasted, he reappears.  This is a reminder that when life seems the worst you have to know that tomorrow may bring total change.  People were at there lowest low on Saturday, and by Sunday they were at the highest high.

Everybody loves bacon! (but me)

Ok, I'm going to reveal something that may change the way you think of me.  I don't love bacon.  I mean I don't hate it.  But given a choice between a sausage patty and a piece of bacon with my eggs I'll chose the sausage every time.  If it's on a buffet and I don't have a choice, then I'll probably take a piece of bacon or two, but.....when I order off the menu, forget it!

I'm not sure where the popularity for bacon came from in the past 10 years.  Bacon sales have risen in the past year to an all time high and this year sales are up 9.5%.  Is there a correlation between bacon and an improving economy?  I don't know, but I'm sure we could drum up an economist with an opinion.  

I know this for sure, I've seen teens and others be attracted to a plate of bacon like it was the greatest meal ever to be served.   Lobster tails don't get the attention that bacon does.  

My mother wasn't a bacon person either.  I can't remember ever waking up to the smell of sizzling bacon when I was a kid.  I mean my mom cooked with it and included it in other meals she was making, but a plate of bacon at breakfast?  Not likely.

So think what you want of me.  I have a thick skin and can take the abuse.  But for now, I want to go on record as not being included in the EVERYONE, when the commercial says, "Everyone loves bacon."