Outback in Tampa

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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Stare.

Image
You know the one I am talking about. When they pull their cell phone out of their pocket and give it the stare. It could also be called a glare, it is intense. They just stared at their phone two minutes ago, but there they go again. What exactly are they waiting for? One would think they were praying to some cellular god that lives inside their phone. "Please god, have someone call or text me". I am so lonely. Cell phones, like computers, have empowered the meekest and weakest of us with a sense of power. Someone has texted me, therefore, I am important. If I were to miss a call......it would be the end of the world, as we know it. I spend a lot of time waiting in airports. I feel like Woody Allen, observing life on this planet. For the most part, everyone in the airport is looking at their cell phone. That L.E.D. light emitting from the phone shines on their face. Perhaps God is really talking to them from his enlightened throne. I am no exce
Read more

A Family of Strangers.

Image
This 1993 movie with Melissa Gilbert, Patty Duke and Wiliam Shatner  was based on the life of Edith Carnahan Neukom and her daughter Jody.  The movie was good but not true to actual events. A book, Jody, was written by Jody's husband in 1976 was a more accurate description of events. Edith Carnahan was the wife of my grandmother's brother, Reno Neukom.  The story:         About August, 1922, Edith Bernice Carnahan, 15 year old daughter of Sam and Flossie Carnahan (farmer from Auburn) was sexually assaulted by an older man in a barn while walking to school.       No arrests or information is available.  A document was found stating that Edith said her biological father was "Culbertson".  A neighbor to the Carnahans was Ivan Culbertson, age 38.       Edith was sent to a Woman's shelter in Fort Wayne and had twins on April 10, 1923.  There are few records as the shelter did not keep good records and kept most of girl's identities hidden.       The babies were
Read more

From Dee

Image
In memory of my dearest brother Chuck,   There are so many memories as we all grew up together. One of my fondest memories would be going to the movies with Chuck, and seeing "Star Wars."   It was just the two of us. I am fortunate to have two wonderful brothers, John and Chuck.   I don't know what I will do without them. Chuck is one of kind.   A generous person, kind, loving and giving person.   He got this personality from Mom of course.    We lost Mom this past year.  It has been a hard year for all of us in the Peterson family.  May our memories stay within our hearts and always will be.   I am just glad I got to spend some time with Chuck at the lake helping him with the cottage. Those memories will always stay with me.   He would always tease me, just like old times.    I can remember the dishtowel flick that Chuck and Mom always did.    Boy, those were hard flicks.  How i miss those memories.  Chuck is now up there with Mom and watching over us. Now he will be for
Read more