Rockin' The Rivers Pin Collectors

 

 

Sometimes, when things are stale in your life, it is good to do something a little different or not in the norm for yourself. That was exactly what I did this past Sunday. My Sunday was spent around a bunch of avid collectors of Hard Rock pins at Pittsburgh’s Hard Rock Café. It was their Rockin’ the Rivers Pin Collectors Pin Club meeting.

 

The Hard Rock Café sponsored a scrumptious breakfast of freshly made omelets, bacon, sausage, hash browns, pastries and bagels. Around 30 people attended, enjoying the food, camaraderie, and trading Hard Rock pins. This was the second time that I attended one of these meetings.

 

I was amazed at how many pins some of the attendees had. One man said he had between 300 – 500 pins. I looked through a number of pins on display and was able to find some interesting pins to swap. Since I grew up in Cleveland, I actually swapped for a Buzzard Guitar Pin (commemorating the Buzzards who return every March 15^th to Hinckley, Ohio.) Plus I found a 2009 Cleveland Rock and Roll Induction Guitar Pin. After walking around, I traded for a few more pins, bought some new pins, and a collectors pin bag for the 70+ pins that I now possessed.

                                                                                                               

It was an interesting Sunday. Some of the members were retired singles and couples. There were even a few Hippies, sporting their graying pony tails and clothes from the 60s. But everyone had one thing in common -  they were crazy about their Hard Rock pins!

Kardiac Kids

 

Who were the ‘Kardiac Kids’? The media dubbed The Cleveland Browns football team of 1980 with this name. Believe it or not – The Cleveland Browns were an exciting team that year and they managed to play their games and pull out a win in the last two minutes or less of their games.

 

In 1980, the team finished with an 11-5 record, won their first Division Title since 1971, caught the attention of the media, and cemented the love of their fans and other observers.  That season was truly a magical one. It was a year of ups and downs, along with the heartbreak of what is now known as ‘Red Right 88’ where QB, Brian Sipe’s pass was thrown into the end zone to Ozzie Newsome and intercepted.

 

It was a year of highs for Sipe, who threw for 4,132 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, and won the NFL MVP award. It was also a year where five Browns players had 50 or more receptions, and where FB Mike Pruitt went over 1,000 yards rushing for the second straight year.

 

The roller coaster season would be remembered for the exciting come from behind wins, like:

·         Browns 26 – Green Bay Packers 21 – where with 16 seconds left in the game, Sipe completed a touchdown pass to Dave Logan to pull out the win.

·          The Browns beat the Steelers 27-26 when Newsome caught the winning catch with 5:35 left in the game.

·         Or when the Browns secured the Central Division title with Don Cockcroft’s game winning field goal, beating the Cincinnati Bengals with 1:25 left to play.

 

The tenacity and excitement of the 1980 team is still talked about 33 years later. Sipe and Company, despite not going to the NFL Championship, is still remembered as one of the most exciting teams and year, and when they took their fans on one long Kardiac Journey. The ‘Kardiac Kids’ of 1980 will fondly be remembered by every fan who had ever followed the team.

New Pope/New Day

I love the idea of a new Pope for a new start. I love the idea that this Pope is a Jesuit. The Jesuits are known as thinkers and educators and were also seen as the black sheep of the church family.

 

I love the idea that this Pope is humble, loves people and shuns the trapping of the church. Knowing that as a cardinal, he lived in his own apartment, took a bus to work, and managed and paid his own bills…t makes me realize that he is really one of us.

 

I do realize because he is the Pope and lives in the Vatican, that he needs a lot of people surrounding him, protecting him, and keeping people out of the Vatican. I’m sure all those people traipsing through the halls and on the carpets will incur a mess. Besides, that’s an unrealistic view that we can just go up to the Vatican, ring a bell, and hang out with Pope Francis.

 

But for the first time in a long time, I see a Pope who likes his flock. He is one of us, even if he does wear a white dress and white beanie.

 

Viva Il Papa!

Some things Trigger a Memory

I live in a big house and some people tell me that I should move, because my children are grown and have moved out. Some of them say that my house is too big for me and maybe there are too many sad memories that prevent me from moving forward. I beg to differ. I have thought long and hard about moving. I decided to stay in my house because no matter if I move or stay, the memories, both good and bad, as well as the bittersweet ones, will always be with me.

 

I don’t have to pack away my memories because no mater, something always triggers them. As I sit on my chair in my bedroom, looking out my window, the day is sunny and beautiful; one of those perfect days during the cold months. The near perfect scene that made me think – on all those beautiful weekend days, I would be doing something with my children like going to the park and letting them play, or going to the zoo, a movie, museum or maybe watching one of their games.  When they grew up, and had their own children, I would be part of their weekend outings.

 

I also realize winter triggers lots of memories for me. Winter was a magical time, especially on the weekends or on the days that school was cancelled because of a huge snow fall. A snowy day would signal time to pull out the sleds and ride down the hill on our front lawn. Snowmen, snow angels and snowballs filled our front and back yard. The dryer did double time drying out their mittens, hats, scarves, clothes, and snow pants. Hot chocolate and marshmallows filled the air with their sweet smell.

 

 But regardless if I stay or move – my memories will always be a part of me. So, for now, I keep my memories as I am comfortable staying in my home.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Maybe my sense of humor is keener or maybe my younger grandchildren are just developing and maturing, but along with the maturity process, they seem to be developing their own sense of humor. Lately, some of their comments have made me pause, and then laugh.

 

Since I have a lot of grandchildren, I try my best to see them as often as I can. When I am around them and we are talking, they seem to shine in the wit department. How does one respond to these little pearls, which all seem to be delivered in a dead pan tone and with perfect timing?

 

*Grandma, did you go to school with Abraham Lincoln? What was he like?

 

*Did you see Babe Ruth play baseball?

 

*Grandma, I saw your picture from the wedding…you looked just like Becca but older.

 

*I know that I’m not your favorite because my brother told me so. But you’re my favorite Grandma on my Gauntner side. Will you buy me more Trash Can cards?

 

*Hey, Grandma, where are your eyebrows? You don’t have too many?

 

 *That ring doesn’t fit you because you have old fingers.

 

*What’s all this stuff hanging under your arms, as one of the grandkids pinches all that loose flab?

 

There are lots more of their witty sayings that I can’t remember. After the grandchildren make these sweet comments, my first inclination is to yank their arms from their bodies and beat them. But, after a few seconds, I just laugh because it is pretty funny. Wiping the tears off of my face, I realize, what they’ve said is really true.

My Muse - The Pine Tree

 

On Mondays, I write with a friend. It’s like a ritual. I pick up my friend and we go to a local restaurant for breakfast. That’s where we talk about our week and our problems or whatever has happened to us, since our last meeting.

 

Afterwards, we end up at the library, where we sit at a table, in front of a glass door, connected to three tall windows. Supposedly, this is where we do our writing or whatever project that we are involved in. But beyond the glass view, there is a misshapen tall pine tree. The tree has become a comfortable sight for me, as I have studied it during my writing lulls. I have watched it from season to season, during the rain, snow, sunshine, and the dreary Pittsburgh days. At first, I only noticed the green pine needles. But soon, I have noticed the brown knobby trunk and all the brown limbs, some stripped of its bark, peeled off and missing. Then I begin to notice the cluster of brown pine cones.

 

I wonder – how old is this tree? Did the builders of Northland Library have pity on that tree and spared its life? Did they purposely build the glass door to the patio with and expansive view? Did they do this so that someone like me might be able to sit at a table and be inspired by that pine tree or  be comforted by it like an old friend?

 

Right now, the snow has been steadily falling and some of the limbs are filling up with snow.  In a little while my creative juices will dry up, I will pack up my writing bag, go home and type up whatever I have written.

 

Then next week, on Mondays, I will be back at the same table writing, wondering, staring at the same tree, and hoping my writing will be inspired.