Oh … if only the weather cooperated on the two days we long for – the weekend. Today, with the big Michigan/Michigan State game going on – what do we have? Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah + rain … not a great combo. Though it is now starting to clear, the weather could be better. I’m starting to re-think my statement that Fall is my favorite season if we continue with this fractious weather as still another walk was abandoned this morning.

How about this photo of a mini tailgate event? It looks more like a picnic really. A checkered tablecloth, a picnic basket, a bottle of wine, a loaf of bread and some cheese … all that is missing is “thee”. Now that looks inviting, doesn’t it? But today as the backyard brawl got underway, instead of a hooded sweatshirt with a favorite alma mater emblem emblazoned on it, and a pair of warm mitts for good measure, a poncho was perfect weather gear and an absolute necessity. The tailgate parties no doubt needed canopies on hand to keep the goodies and guests from getting too soggy.

This annual Michigan college football rivalry raises the hackles in some households for sure. In one of the neighborhoods where I walk occasionally, it is a real “house divided” … it is not just the two different garden flags in front of the home – one in green and white featuring Sparty’s face and the other in maize-and-blue with the big “M” on it. Nor, is it the evil-looking college mascot garden gnomes on opposite sides of the neatly manicured lawn seemingly shooting daggers at one another. Even the SUVs that are parked alongside the house have personalized license plates to clearly show each alum’s allegiance to their university. I’m guessing there is a cold chill between the inhabitants of that bungalow today, and it isn’t related to the November temps. But it is all in good fun. I’ve walked by early on a Saturday over the course of the past few months and I’ve seen the guy and gal loading up both their vehicles to the hilt with food and beverages, and hauling BBQs and what may be a steam table. Suffice it to say, it is much more effort than sandwiches and munchies.

I had a boss back in the day who lived for U of M football Saturdays, and he wouldn’t miss a single scrimmage either. Though Bob Ufer was long gone by then, my boss was friendly with his sons and kept Ufer’s spirit alive for them by recollecting and reciting significant football play-by-play calls made by their dad. He was best buds with Bo too. I think maize and blue blood coursed through his veins. He went to undergrad and law school at U of M and got a letter for track, and he would speak of his glory days as an athlete back at U of M like it was yesterday. It was kind of hard to imagine him as an athlete with his rotund shape … no, roly-poly would be a more-accurate description. In his later years he lived to eat and he hardly resembled the photos of that skinny-as-a-rail track-and-field star that hung all over his office walls.

Yup, the Beach Boys got it right in the song “Be True To Your School” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X4DuxWUlwM … hold onto those glory days and keep the faith – sometimes it is all you’ve got.