Two Weeks Ago,
I was fortunate to have been invited to tour the factory and offices of a large Houston based HVAC manufacturer along with four of my friends - competing Auburn-area heating and cooling contractors. The junket was very informative and enlightening, and we HVAC brethren shared that education and each others good company for three days before flying back to Sac-town International Airport.
As good as our time in Houston turned out, I was still looking forward to getting back home to Auburn for all the typical reasons - the comfort of family, pets and neighbors, my familiar diet and routine, and to catch-up on chores and service calls. But I was especially looking forward to catching the Placer Hillmen's second round football playoff game
Sadly, our flight home from Houston that afternoon was delayed, leading to an unfortunate 9:30pm return to the foothills... too late to catch the end of the Placer football game as I'd hoped. So after greeting my family and dispatching my bags, I did a quick web search for the results of the game, finding the cold, hard reality of a heartbreaking loss posted on several websites.
Coming up short in a 27 to 26 contest, I certainly missed seeing an obviously exciting game. Not that I'm complaining about missing a game... The Hillmen have graciously provided us with plenty of excitement throughout the season. And though the season's end is upsetting, I think I'm most upset about missing the wonderful experience of seeing our Hillmen lined up along the sideline in front of us in the bleachers... these fifty big kids. These classy young men. Because at the end of the game, whether they've won or lost, and they've finished honoring their opponents with handshakes at mid-field, they remove their helmets and form a long, bulky line to face us, their fans. They link together at last with strong arms wrapped around waists and over one another's shoulders as we family and friends stand to honor them from our perch in LeFebre Stadium. And they sing their alma mater, and sway back and forth in time with their song like a green and gold centipede, while we that
they face sing right back to them. And it's a wonderful and amazing thing, because their emotion is palpable and contagious, travelling through the crisp air of these cool autumn nights when they sing. A spectacle, to be sure, but one with a feeling you just don't get very often.
As sorry as I am that I missed seeing them put their considerable talent on display last Friday night, I'm more disappointed that I missed what The Hillmen shared when they sang in the end to honor their Green and Gold. Congratulations, boys, and thank you for this season's most excellent and inspirational performance. All of you are champions.
I was fortunate to have been invited to tour the factory and offices of a large Houston based HVAC manufacturer along with four of my friends - competing Auburn-area heating and cooling contractors. The junket was very informative and enlightening, and we HVAC brethren shared that education and each others good company for three days before flying back to Sac-town International Airport.
As good as our time in Houston turned out, I was still looking forward to getting back home to Auburn for all the typical reasons - the comfort of family, pets and neighbors, my familiar diet and routine, and to catch-up on chores and service calls. But I was especially looking forward to catching the Placer Hillmen's second round football playoff game
Sadly, our flight home from Houston that afternoon was delayed, leading to an unfortunate 9:30pm return to the foothills... too late to catch the end of the Placer football game as I'd hoped. So after greeting my family and dispatching my bags, I did a quick web search for the results of the game, finding the cold, hard reality of a heartbreaking loss posted on several websites.
Coming up short in a 27 to 26 contest, I certainly missed seeing an obviously exciting game. Not that I'm complaining about missing a game... The Hillmen have graciously provided us with plenty of excitement throughout the season. And though the season's end is upsetting, I think I'm most upset about missing the wonderful experience of seeing our Hillmen lined up along the sideline in front of us in the bleachers... these fifty big kids. These classy young men. Because at the end of the game, whether they've won or lost, and they've finished honoring their opponents with handshakes at mid-field, they remove their helmets and form a long, bulky line to face us, their fans. They link together at last with strong arms wrapped around waists and over one another's shoulders as we family and friends stand to honor them from our perch in LeFebre Stadium. And they sing their alma mater, and sway back and forth in time with their song like a green and gold centipede, while we that
they face sing right back to them. And it's a wonderful and amazing thing, because their emotion is palpable and contagious, travelling through the crisp air of these cool autumn nights when they sing. A spectacle, to be sure, but one with a feeling you just don't get very often.
As sorry as I am that I missed seeing them put their considerable talent on display last Friday night, I'm more disappointed that I missed what The Hillmen shared when they sang in the end to honor their Green and Gold. Congratulations, boys, and thank you for this season's most excellent and inspirational performance. All of you are champions.
