maddash

We spent New Years day at the Outback Bowl in Tampa. Jan 1, 2000  Our only child, Lisa died on Nov 30, 1999. Linda and I had become recluse and depressed.  We were still working but living life was a chore. My dear friend Royal and his wife Susan insisted we go to the Outback Bowl in Tampa, on New Years Day.  They bought us tickets and insisted.  I didn't realize at the time, it was the best therapy we could have been prescribed.   We escaped our grief for a couple hours with new sights, sounds and noise.   I could have gone home after the National anthem and been happy.   As Charlie Daniels hit the last note of the anthem we were treated to a "flyover" of the stadium by four fighter jets from McDill Airforce base. Immediately after that four sky divers from the base made a dramatic fall to the center of the football field.   Very awe inspiring and for few moments we left our world of despair.  Incidently, there was a football game...won by Penn State.