Half Time Entertainment

This Friday, at halftime of the Ropes-New Home 6-man football game, Khiva and her doggie brethren and sistern will be the featured half time entertainment. Seems neither team has a band, so they have resorted to watching dogs performing agility activities. Could be some fun West Texas fall entertainment if you find yourself bored to death.

Going the Extra Mile

Ever found yourself in the role of first responder at an automobile accident? Ever wonder how you would respond if you did? Do you see yourself as the heroic superman...pulling victims from flaming wreckage with one hand as you direct the Interstate traffic with the other? Or do you see yourself frozen in indecision.

These question popped into my mind last week at the TxDOT conference in College Station, as the "Extra Mile" citations were handed out to a few TxDOT employees who had found themselves in that situation and responded.

As for me, I have found myself in the first responder role twice, and surprisingly have reacted without thinking. Looking back...I have to wonder how I made decisions at that time. There were fatalities in both cases, and I don't believe there was anything I could have done to prevent it in either case. I just went into a strange mode and began DOING.

In one case, I helped extract the eventual victims from the car. In the other, the fatalities were obvious, and I began to direct traffic on an Austin Freeway.

Was any of this "going the extra mile"? No...it was simply reacting...probably just as any other average Joe would have done. However, I am relieved I did not "freeze up" in either case. I think all of us have the innate ability to respond for our fellow man in an emergency situation.

I applauded our "Extra Mile" honorees along with everyone else. Yes, they did respond in an exemplary manner and a couple of people are alive today for their efforts. And yes, I am sure they feel as if they did nothing special...only reacting to their fellow man in need.

It's good to know there are plenty of folks out there who are ready and willing to react when the situation slams its way into their life. Here's hoping you never find yourself there...but rest assured, you will know what to do.

The Fall of the Great Plains

A few weeks ago I received a call from a headhunter, offering me a position that would provide about a 25% increase in salary, plus bonuses. He said they had positions currently available in all of the major Texas cities. I asked if that included Lubbock, and he said no. The cities he considered to be major included DFW, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. I thanked him for his interest and politely declined.

Crazy? I had to ask myself that question. But the past few mornings on the High Plains have made me realize I definitely made the right choice. Say what you want about Lubbock, but I defy you to show me a better place to spend the Fall. Yes, winters can be cold and blustery. Spring will tear the paint off your car with sandstorms, and Summer can be blistering hot. But Fall...it just cannot be beat.

When I was a younger man, I considered the Winter Solstice to be the first day of Summer, because the days would be getting longer, and the long party days of Summer would soon be here. Then, in late June, when the Summer Solstice would appear, I would be hit with a wave of dread, knowing the days would get shorter and all I could do was wait for late December.

Now, the Autumnal Equinox is the day I look forward to every year. Soon, the mowing I started out loving, but grew to hate would finally end. The golf course would be empty of fair weather golfers, leaving its pristine beauty for me and my fellow dew-busters. Strolling out into the back yard, late at night to move the water, I am struck by the sheer wonder of Fall on the High Plains. Crystal clear skies, cool temperatures and the feeling of how truly blessed I am to be where I am, when I am.

Keep your money headhunter...I sincerely love wading about in the mediocre pond that is Lubbock. Yes Virginia, there truly is more to life than money.

The N-Word Revisited

As I said I would, I was finally able to visit with one of my Black friends about this topic. I used the word "nigger" several times in public with him in discussing why or why not we should be able to use it in context. In fact, I started the conversation with the statement..."Earl, I remember talking with you at my home many years ago about how I was always telling Nigger jokes..." He did not flinch, nor act affronted.

In fact, he agreed with me that if we continue to hide the word, how will we ever get beyond it. Surprisingly, he pointed out to me that the wanton usage of the word by kids today, both Black and White, has diminished what the word originally meant, and has made it seem more acceptable. I had not thought about the idea that today's generation might not equate the same racist derogatory nature to the word.

At any rate, I thanked him for setting me straight 20+ years ago in a mature and non-confrontational way. And even though I am not sure he remembers that night as well as I, he said he appreciated the comments, and was glad we were able to discuss it.

I think it may be time for our generation to move on to more important matters and lay Nigger to rest. Or, as Rodney King said, "Can't we all just get along?"