Adventures are for Somewhere BESIDES Auburn

Steve and I had a great trip to Auburn this past weekend, but we messed up one big time. That was in our restaurant choice for dinner on Friday night. We were trying to "be good" and stick to the low-carb diet we've been on, so when we saw a bright, shiny, new place with Diner in the title, we thought, "It's bound to have meat, vegetables and salad, so why not try it?" Big mistake. Huge. The service was lackluster, and the food tasted bad, really bad and was overpriced to boot. When we left, I sent a text message to the kids spelling out our tale of woe. Matt quickly responded with a text of his own: "Who goes to a diner in Auburn???" The clear implication was that he wouldn't be caught dead there. His choices -- and what should have been our choices -- would be Chuck's BarBQue, Guthrie's, Cheeburger/Cheeburger, or Niffer's. He wouldn't be looking for healthy, home-cooking. He'd be wanting to feel like a college student again. Laura's text said: "Why would you go anywhere besides Cheeburger or Guthrie's?" When I told her that we decided to be a little bit adventurous, her reply was classic -- "You don't go to Auburn for what's different. You go because of what is the SAME! War Eagle!"

See why I love my children so much? They are such delightful people, and they were exactly right. Why do the old grads like Steve and me make pilgrimages back to the Loveliest Village on the Plains? Because of what's the SAME. The traditions!

We learned our lesson the hard way and spent the rest of the weekend reminiscing and enjoying the tried and true.

The top picture shows the back of my latest t-shirt purchase. Notice that "rolling the trees on Toomer's Corner" is featured because their fate has been so much apart of the news since last winter. In the next picture, you can see for yourself how the trees at Toomer's Corner are faring. Look closely at the tops, and you'll see some sick-looking yellow and brownish leaves, especially when you compare their color to the trees behind them. It's sad that this particular tradition may not survive much longer.

I always enjoy walking past Langdon Hall, the site of my Senior Piano Recital given in December of 1971. I started my college journey at Samford, studying with my much-beloved teacher Dr. Betty Sue Shepherd. But, I gave that up to marry Steve and ended up here. I'd do it all over again, dear Steve.
This is Gargis Hall where many of my music classes were held. It was old then, so it's REALLY old now. :) Stately architecture, though, don't you think? And there's a glimpse of Samford Hall's iconic clock tower in the distance.
Here Steve and I are headed to the game, and you can see Jordan-Hare Stadium in the background and Haley Center. I hear that they're planning to tear down the Haley Center. I guess that piece of landscape will change soon -- hopefully for the better.
Here is Aubie -- award-winning mascot -- entering the stadium before game time. Right before kick-off, he came onto the field carrying the crystal football, symbol of Auburn's 2010 National Championship. Definitely a "goose-bump moment."
With 30 seconds left in the game, the score was 42-38 and thankfully, it stayed that way to the end. It was another day of chanting the cheers, singing the fight song, and pulling for the Tigers.

This is not the place to color outside the lines. We'll stick more closely to what we know and love next time -- hopefully in the not-too-distant future. War Eagle, everybody!

Receiving Acts of Kindness

Last Saturday was a scorcher of a day on the campus of Auburn University. The first game of the 2011 season, and the first game since Auburn won the National Championship over Oregon last January. Steve and I, along with 76,000+ loyal fans, made the trip to see the Tigers add yet another win to the nation's current longest winning streak.

I knew it was going to be a good day when we walked into Cracker Barrel for breakfast and a young, 20-something young man wanted to know where I had gotten my shirt -- a sure sign that I had chosen a good one the previous day when we were in our favorite campus bookstores.

Later, when we were standing in the crowd waiting for Tiger Walk, a nice man who was at a security tent beside the gate brought over a sturdy metal chair and asked if I wanted to stand in it to get a better view of the coaches and players about to enter the stadium. What a treat!!!! It almost made being a "fluffy senior citizen" worth it. Bless his heart.

Steve and I thought we were being smart and careful about surviving 4 hours in a sweltering stadium. We applied thick layers of sunscreen, we had on comfortable shoes, and light-weight clothes, and I had a big floppy hat to cover my neck, ears and thin hair. We were lucky enough to have found tickets where the sun was to our backs, and Tropical Depression Lee, coming up from the Gulf, provided a very pleasant breeze. We went in with large, ice-filled Diet Cokes and thought we'd be "set." Happily, the folks around us were fun-loving and NOT drinking -- a definite plus for a morning game.

The game was tense and disappointing. For 57 1/2 minutes, the Tigers looked mediocre at best. Then, with 2:07 left they scored 14 points to win the game by 4 points. Definitely, a thriller. We were so glad we stayed until the final buzzer. The end to a great day, right? Just walk to the car, turn on the air conditioner, get something cool to drink, and head home. It should have been so simple.

However, about the time we got out of the main flow of people leaving the stadium, I knew I was in trouble. The best way to describe it is that I just started fading away. I was sinking into a semi-conscious hole of some kind. I would take a few steps and then stop to sit down or put my head down, take a few more steps, try to "get a grip" and then go again. It wasn't long before I was incapable of going another step -- very frightening with the car parked blocks and blocks away.

Random acts of kindness started popping up from everywhere. Two guys stopped and offered to use their Smartphones to find the number of a taxi service. (Steve called but the taxi couldn't get very close because of the flow of traffic implemented by the campus police). One lady stopped to give us her fan (shown in the picture above). Who would think that a funeral-home-type fan would become such a symbol of kindness? Steve approached some nearby tailgaters, and they quickly brought ice water, some Sprite, orange juice, and even generously offered my teetotalling husband "a cold beer." Don't worry. He graciously declined the beer but gratefully accepted the other beverages.

I couldn't open my eyes. All around my mouth I could taste salt, and my skin was grainy. Steve described me as having "a funny color." (Glad I didn't look in a mirror.) The seemingly insurmountable dilemma Steve had was how to get me back to our car. At that moment -- completely through the loving provision of our Heavenly Father -- an ambulance came down the street where we were, obviously looking for anyone needing help. Steve flagged them down, and the paramedics jumped out and started assessing my situation. Amazingly, my vital signs were good, but severe dehydration was determined to be the culprit. Those three ANGELS got permission from their boss and carried us in their ambulance to within 2 steps of our car. They even buckled me into my seat belt!!!! They treated me with such kindness and respect. I will likely never know their names, but I DO know that God used them as vehicles of His protection and blessing in my life last Saturday afternoon.

If anyone reading this has any connection to the emergency personnel that were on duty last weekend in Auburn, PLEASE express my sincere thanks and appreciation for their work and tell them how much it meant to Steve and to me.

Within an hour or two of sitting with the air conditioner blowing full blast in my face and my dear Hero Husband forcing me to drink lots and lots of water, I started to come back to life. We definitely learned the "importance of staying hydrated" and will be much more deliberate when faced with a similar scenario again.

I have to say it. This day made me even prouder of being a member of the Auburn Family. Win, lose, or draw, I'm "ALL IN!"

Matthew 10:42 (Jesus said) "And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones EVEN A CUP OF COLD WATER to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward."