Life has learnt me.....

Not everyone will like you.

Not everyone will dislike you.

Never hold your pizza box like school books (vertically).

Boogers happen.  All they are is dust in the wind.

Pavlov should never be allowed to rescue or foster, ding.

Some like it hot, some like it cold.  The lucky ones find cause for smile in either.

Sugar in the morning, sugar in the evening, sugar at suppertime, then, sit on a wall, have a great fall, they'll never be able to put you back together again.

To double your money, fold it in half. (Thanks Granny.)

We ALL will get an itchy itchy rash, cry help, I've fallen and I can't get up, step on a nail, a Lego, a snail [barefoot], your dog's tail, the gas, others (with intent), others (without intent.) in gum, dog poop,

Some people smell......... really good.  Really bad.  Like smoke. Like alcohol.  Like a rat.

The longer one is alive, the quicker we are to 'turn the channel' on something, someone, we don't like.

Blood IS thicker than water, but it too will freeze, boil, say stupid stuff, but also give reason to look forward to the day, the week, the month, the year, life.

Life can be whittled down to a shoe store.  We will never be able to see the view from all of the shoes within. Time will happen when you need steel toe shoes but ain't got 'em on.  Time will happen where you do things that your really know better than to do, and even if you're wearing sneakers, people will find out.  It's hard to find a good fit.  We all get measured.  Some are narrower, wider, longer, shorter than others.  Like poo poo, all feet will eventually stink.

It takes leather balls to play rugby. (That was for you JC, may you RIP.)

Pretending and make believe doesn't end with childhood. Everyone occasionally fakes it, yes, even us men. (Most, occasionally have a dirty mind.)

It's a different day and age.  Jeans now resemble Demolition Derby's. Usedta be, once a year, Marcel would come take your picture. Kids nowadays can't do anything without being on camera. Phones.  Ring doorbells. Security cameras. Facetime. Zoom.  GoPros, you name it, they snap it. They even Snap your chats.

Usedta be just when Lizzie Borden came around. Now, everyone gets hacked.

You 'SOMEBODY'?  Valedictorian?  PERFECT ACT Score?  Come see us when your time is coming and tell us you never ever forgot your UserID/password.

Interest is interesting. Love interest. Simple interest. Compound interest. Disinterest, datinterest. Of life, of people, of situation, Arte Johnson (Wolfgang) perhaps summed it up best, "Verry interesting."

Do something that someone doesn't agree with, some will say "That's it, never again will you get a chance with me." Most, I believe, will give a second chance. Grandparents and Wordle players give a minimum of six.

We'll probably never acquire all we want, but we're blessed in having what we need.

Relationships.  Wow, that's a blog for another day.  Some get it just right like Goldilocks.  There are 'stories' like Cinderella/Prince Charming, George/Gracie, Jimmy/Rosalynn, Jimmy/Mrs. Calabash, Ellen/Portia, Goldie/Kurt, John/Yoko, Johnny/June, Oprah/Stedman, Fred/Ethel, Barney/Betty, Fred/Wilma....even some we know.  You know who they are.  They're lucky, BUT, they work at it, deserve it.  Some of us, get it right, for awhile. Enjoy 'while' you got it.  

Even though it's said it's 'like riding a bike', in real life, one day we won't be able to. Sadly, everything ends.

Life's a gas.  Everyone farts. Pass it on.

Love, Victurd

Christmas Island.......

Aloha ay.. aloha ay... aloha oha ay...  Sing it Leon!

How'dja like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island?
How'dja like to spend the holiday away across the sea?
How'dja like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island?
How'dja like to hang a stocking on a great big coconut tree?

Oh gee I dunno Leon.   I love my easy chair, that I do.

"You'll shoot your eye out."  No, that ain't it.  I mean "You'll get sand in your buttcrack."  Eww.

How'd you like to stay up late like the islanders do?
Wait for Santa to sail in with your presents in a canoe
If you ever spend Christmas on Christmas Island
You will never stray for everyday your Christmas dreams come true

Stay up late?  Hell, that last time I saw the ball drop on Times Square I think Nixon was in office.  

In a canoe? No reindeer?  LEON! That's worse than the self checkout at WallyWorld!

Dreams come true?  64 year old blonde, rich, divorced, hard of hearing, doesn't speak English?  Never happen.

How'dja like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island?
How'dja like to spend the holiday away across the sea?
How'dja like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island?
How'dja like to hang a stocking on a great big coconut tree?

The temps would be nice... coconut tree?  No pine needles to vacuum? Then again, I'd have to microwave 3 tons of popcorn to string up that whole tree.  What if a coconut fell and landed on a grandkid Leon?  I'm kinda fond of Christmas trees that have a more bottom heavy shape like me.

How'd you like to stay up late like the islanders do?
Wait for Santa to sail in with your presents in a canoe
If you ever spend Christmas on Christmas Island
You will never stray for everyday your Christmas dreams come true.

Well, I don't have covered parking here.  I hate longsleeves, pants. I suppose it might be OK if the women wore less.  I wouldn't have to fly would I?  Checking all the presents as baggage might cost more than the presents themselves Leon. Elevators?  I don't do well on elevators.

I'm a ginger, could I get sunburn in December? (Life was traumatic as a child at the community pool when it was me, only, wearing a t-shirt.)

I wonder if Gilligan, the Professor and Mary Ann enjoyed it?

I do like pina coladas, not fond of getting caught in the rain, not a fan yoga, I have MAYBE half a brain... Makin' love at midnight in the dunes of the Cape? (Do they have pharmacies?)

All in all, it is tempting, but I'll probably stay here Leon.

It all comes down to that bottom line. (Sand in the buttcrack.)  That would be grinding.

Love, Victurd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmAx-sxtMvQ

Silence is Golden.....

Rag Doll......

Rag Doll was written in 1964 by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio of the Four Seasons.  It was released on a 45 as "The A-Side", and on the B-side, "Silence Is Golden."  Silence is Golden speaks from the shoes of a jolted lover.

That, ain't what this is about (although many might play shrink and ask "Are you sure?")

I love the four lines of this song that are:

Silence is golden
But my eyes still see
Silence is golden, golden
But my eyes still see

I didn't do much digging, but, the Four Seasons version must notta gone anywhere.  Three years later, the British band The Tremeloes released it, and it went bonkers (good.), sold millions, voted one of the best songs of 1967 - they even recorded an Italian version.

Therein lies the (or maybe my) problem.  I don't know if there was much "Damnit, that ain't fair" or "How could they" from the Four Seasons, mighta been, ain't sure - this much i know, I woulda shown my ass (sorry) and blabbed those questions.

I recently read something that I labeled as really, really arrogant.  Victor (that's me) wanted to stick my damn head inside the computer screen and holler "you are WAY too fulla yourself!"  I didn't, but I sureashell felt it.

While I sure admit to speaking/typing/lashing out to what I deem 'ugly', this time I didn't - and it's all the 'fault' of so many I respect like crazy.  Those that NEVER show their ass, you NEVER see their names in conflict (especially when there ain't no need for conflict) and I truly admire that/them.  I wish I could name names - but that wouldn't be fair to them.

I'll name one name, and only because I don't know him.  As a HUGE University of Missouri fan, it kinda sorta burns my butt to say his name, because he's a former KU football coach.  That said, I really, really respect what this man said, thus, I hold him in high esteem. (This blog, potentially used as fodder for my friends that are KU fans, will self destruct in two minutes.)

Mark Mangino, the former KU football coach (highly successful), there was a really really cool article about him in the KC Star a few years back.  He was a very stern coach who got results. That same sternness in part probably led to him eventually resigning at KU.

I know I've used what he said before in a blog so apologies because of repetitiveness, still, the message (to me at least) is beautiful.  "Talk less, listen more."

Again, remember (KU fans) this blog will self destruct in two minutes after i post it - but, Mark's wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She (and his entire family, kids/grandkids) mean the world to him.  One day she had a chemo treatment and insisted she go alone.  It was tough for him, but he let her.  Later, she called in distress because clumps of her hair were falling out.  Pacing the floor, not knowing what to do, he grabbed a razor and shaved his own head in support of her for when she same home.  “I expected her to be crying and everything, and she said, ‘You look terrible,’” Mangino recalled, laughing. “‘Why’d you do that?’”

Mark worked on himself in several ways.  He's a very large man, he lost 100+ pounds (ahm, Victor, maybe make a note of that?)   Of course he did it for his own health, but mainly because he wants to see his grandkids grow up.

I've got a buddy that brags (is proud, that sounds better) of how many paperbacks he's read this year.  It ain't me babe.  Gimme the Sport's page, 2 eggs scrambled, sausage patties, breakfast potatoes (fried), wheat toast and I can read, read, read the Sport's page fo'ever.  Amazes me, how much one can learn from reading the Sport's page, my take anyways.

Mark went on to detail folks that made an impact in his life.  His HS football coach, an ole blood and guts type - "he taught me toughness". One his favorite sayings he remembers his coach telling he and the football team "If you're waiting for your ship to come in, forget it, you've got to swim out to it."

He was an assistant at a small college.  Before one particular game, he remembers going over his notes "If they do this, we'll do that.... but if they do this, what will i do?"  About that time he looked over at his head coach and he was in the corner praying.  He (Mark) was admittedly young and his reaction was "well that's kinda foolish, is that going to help us pickup the blitz?"

Bottomline, my deduction is, thanks Mark, there's hope then that I ain't too old to learn.  I will try to remember the kind of September, oops, no, that ain't it, try to remember all these lessons, but mainly, to LISTEN MORE, TALK LESS.

I am a horrible cook.  In life, and sometimes in the kitchen, I show my ass and try to fix everything.  I struggle remembering I can't. I struggle thinking "How can they think, act like that?"  Well, we talked kitchen/cooking, all of us have different likes.  Maybe what comes off as arrogance to me might be a sign of wonderful confidence to another. (I still get to hate oysters though.)

Silence is golden
But my eyes still see
Silence is golden, golden
But my eyes still see

Hat's off (to see Mark's head) and, to commend my friends who ya never see at the 'smoke tree'.  HUH?  Ya gotta be from Liberty, MO (and old school) to unnerstand that one.

I am human, imperfect, hear me ROAR.......... hopefully after I've listened awhile.

Peace out.......... Victurd

Opposite........

It's common knowledge I've got a big keyboard, ie, mouth i guess.  While i usually played right field in softball (that's where they stick 'the liability') I love 'coming from leftfield', ie, agin' the norm.

An ex sister inlaw just asked me..  (Before I go into that, lemme preface by saying we now call each other 'outlaws', still, I hope I made her feel good when I told her she's STILL in the Top 150 of my favorite people.  Truth is, I think we love each other like siblings, we actually did a blood brother/blood sister thing once... she was all sentimental, I was like "eh OK, let's do it." KIDDING, but we really did do that.

Anyways, she asked me what I'm thankful for............ I nicely chastised her by stating "Don't ever ask someone that like to write to "Tell me", but, I told her what I'm thankful for.

Well.

This ain't about that.

This is about what I could do without.  As I age, that list grows exponi.... exponitsh... exponishial.. it grows a lot.

THINGS I COULD DO WITHOUT:

40 pounds........  wrinkles..... a car without collision insurance in rut season..  sushi/fish/yes, crustaceans too,....   mayo, relish, most green veggies, salad dressing, avocados, anchovies, many, many kinds of foods, I am picky.

S'MORE I COULD DO WITHOUT:

People being aghast about what I won't eat (why do they care?)....    KU Jayhawk fans (not all, many though)... .ear hairs...  shoelaces...  checkenginelights...  flat tires...  all the crap that's in my trunk on top of the spare tire...  

Week old bananas..  apartment neighbors (nice people, just wish they didn't live here)...   tailgaters...  redlight runners...  people going at stop signs when it clearly ain't their turn....

Sentences that start with "I mean"...what about the next time they say a sentence and they don't preface it with that?  Do they mean what they're about to say?  I mean, really!

I mean S'MORE I COULD DO WITHOUT:

acid reflex.... loose stools (hey, it's my blog!)...  whenever in conversation in a group and someone says "I've got to go pee"... (Just shoot me, it's ALWAYS women)....

The whole your/you're, their/there thing, and lacking knowledge of same.

People who have a real hard time smiling.  In fact, next time it happens, I think I'm gonna ask "Can I tickle you?"

Afflictions, ailments, diseases.

The #2, 3, 4 and 5 starters for the Kansas City Royals.  Can't Singer start every game?  Royal batters who take strike three when it's right down the middle.

Hate, prejudice, uppityness..  

Electric car windows that break and can be fixed for 'only $900.'  Headlights on old Caddys that go out that cost $100 for the lamp and $200 to put it in (I ain't kiddin.)

BO.

Chained up dogs (unless there is no fenced yard, the dog can run around a bit, and it's a short term thing).

A 40 hour job.  Pages 2, 3 & 4 of the Kansas City Star which speak to shootings, car accident deaths, national and world disaster.

Hearing the name Don Dinkinger again.

Could do with worrying about people that seemingly don't enjoy life............. but I do worry.

Cliques (they're still a thing, I pray I'm not guilty.)

Commercials (most).

Most hound dog commands.  Sure, we need "C'mere" and "Down" when they jump on guests, but who gives a rats how hard they pull on the leash when you walk, they're excited!  Who cares if they walk in-step with you?  I, for one, don't care.   I love that a 9 pound dog can pull me up a small hill.

Demonstrated lack of respect for mankind, womankind.

Mean people.  They suck.

Cable bill increases.  Gas company increases.  Understand everything increases, but, these companies do it with all too much frequency.

I don't mind a good political discussion now and then, but, when that's the only thing a person lives, breathes for, "I'm like, Did you see the Chief's game?  Those yoga pants? That dog video on Facebook?"

Speeders in school zones. (I'm about done)

That many give up on relationships way too easily.

Most insects, for sure racoons, venomous snakes.

Bloggers who go on and on and on and on.

From leftfield,

Love, Victurd

Thanks.......

The times, there'a changin'........  We're not happily sitting in school on a Friday awaiting the bell to ring, so, woo hoo, the weekend starts, fun will be had, not  a care in the world.

We're no longer in the infancy of our careers, awaiting Friday 5pm so we can Pavlov thru traffic to spend a nice, cozy weekend with our significant other and our toddlers.  Aside from making ends meet (up to and possibly including both working, a 2nd job simply 'because ya have to') and care for our family is top priority.

We're past that age where we had one eye on our age, the other on the # of years to get to 65 or 70, or whatever your R day is to be... we'd drive home on Friday, pass the kids going as we were coming.  Look at significant other and say, "Ssshhhhhhh..... listen..... quiet," an event rarely afforded these past years.

Much...  much has happened in the recent years.  For most, retired. For some, working part-time because we want to or maybe have to.

With life, naturally, comes ugly.  Divorces.  Loss of loved ones.  Possible financial crisis.  Physical woes, afflictions.  Covid.  Shingles.  The Flu.  Going from point A to point B is no longer a 50 yard dash to win a Presidential Certificate - it can be more of a trial.

Your eyeballs here have helped me much. Truly.

I do believe there are yummy parts to aging.

Those you love, you love even more.  Those you don't, you don't really care any longer. We pick (or stay) with friends who basically, have fun.  We are in the Daylight Savings portion of life, it's precious time.

Music sounds better yet just as we remember it.. Paying for Cable,Wifi, Steaming, Dish sucks - but, affords 397 different options to watch and we can usually Goldilocks a "Baby Bear" channel that is "Just right," suits our mood, or both of our moods.

Hugs last a little longer. Smiles happen with frequency, because "Daylight Savings" of life is embedded in our brain.  Smiling, laughing is hella better than the alternative.

We are fortunate in the we can have a list of 23 things to accomplish today, sit down at the computer at 10am, and for the next three hours watch dog, cat videos, grandkid pics, read funny jokes only to stop and declare, "ah, I'm gonna go take a nap, I'll get to those other things tomorrow. Tomorrow is Tuesday isn't it?"

Our eyeballs open in the morning..  we internally say a word of thanks.  We sit on the side of the bed for awhile...  just because.  Because we know, sometime in the next hour we'll do something stupid (lose our balance, hop (four times) putting on our undies, fart as we walk, spill coffee grounds allover the side of the trash can) and if none of that has made us laugh, we rinse our face, look in the mirror, and that cinches laughter, and the thought "By gosh I'd BETTER HAVE HAD fun in life to look like this, from that."

No life ain't perfect, but we're not nearly as bugged by the imperfections we usedta be. A friend asks, "How ya doin?" and.......whilst our brain my drive by 'hip replacement... arthritis... weight gain.. pain, in some every day things...possible kid, grandkid probs' - we answer "Doing good, thank you" because, all in all, it's Daylight Savings Time- and we choose good.

We don't know what or who is ahead.  If you happen to be on Facebook and have those Memories pop-up daily, in looking at the comments from like 5, 7, 11 years ago, you're like "Damn, I miss him/her."  Thus, again, we hug a little tighter.  We don't hide the word love.  We compliment, because it feels darn good to do so. We send more texts.. even those of us that aren't big on 'the phone', make more phone calls. Touches, I guess we could call it.  Touches are good, feel good, and we are thankful they happen to be a two way street.

Kind things you've said here beat any prescription my Doc has ever written and i thank you.

Fleetwood Mac (which sounds just like we remember) says "You make loving fun."  For those of you in love, kudos.. we're not envious, we're grateful for you to have that love.

All of us though, combined, make living fun.  Thank you, and you and you and you.

Happy Thanksgiving

Stop..............

There's the fictitious story of the guy that was speeding... the fictitious cop pulls him over for running a stop sign.  Explains to the guy 'why' ("You didn't stop back there at the 4-way").. "Eh, there were no cars coming from any direction, I slowed down.. stop, slow down, what's the difference?"

So, fictitious cop pulls the driver outta the car, grabs his night stick, starts beating the holy heck outta him.  After 20 or so 'bams', the fictitious cop says, "Now, would you like me to stop or slow down?"

Among the disgusting addictions people really need to stop......... alcohol, tobacco, marajawahna, misspelling words, overeating, watching porn, using computers, looking at their phone, shopping, video games, overworking........

You there?  Yeah you.  Don't think you ain't guilty.  Ever hit the elevator button a second time? Boughtya food in a box, read the 'structions, tossed box into trash, GONE BACK to get it out and reread?  Uh huh, thought ya had.

Lie to the doctor about exercising, smoking, drinking, eating... uh huh, stop it.

You even accidentally sent a text to the person you were talking about didn't you?  Take a break from the computer to check your phone?  Uh huh, what i thought.  That party you went to at the Metcalf's house.. You went to pee, THEN YOU LOOKED IN THE MEDICINE CABINET DIDN'T YOU?  STOP LYING.

Looked for your phone when it was in your hand? Hat when it was on your head?  Stop.  You even overthink eye contact don'tya?  Stop it...... 

Who'll stop the rain? I can't stop loving you...  Stop? In the name of love.....

Jenny left Forrest Gump.  He started running. He ran for three years, two months, 14 days and 16 hours. FINALLY, FINALLY he stopped.  "I'm pretty tired, think I'll go home now."

Next week.  Turkey. Stuffing. Mashed potatoes.  Gravy. Cranberry sauce. Corn.  Green bean casserole. Candied Yams.  You did it, you cleaned your plate.  Your belly tells you STOP! PLEASE! Then that there damn piecea pecan pie stares ya right in the face don't it?  Me too.

We can't stop tragedy.  Violence. Death. Envy. Jealousy. Hatred.  Time.

Thankfully, there's some pretty cool things that don't stop.......  True friends who have your back..  a family you can always count on...  someone who supports your dreams... humor and laughter... a person who doesn't give up on you...   and that damn EverReady bunny.

With old age, we find sometimes we stop things..... running.. jumping.. cartwheels.. roundoff-backflip-backflip. We can't stop saying "Stop me if I've ever told you this." (Most nice folks won't say "yeah, I've heard that" and sit there and pretend it's the first time to hear.  People are nice like that...... we can't stop NOT answering the phone when it's sitting right infronta us because we simply ain't in the mood to talk.  Saying "Oh, I'm just now seeing your text." and/or.. "your email went into my junk folder."  Uh huh, sure. That's the last thing I'll order on Prime this year, promise.  Uh huh.

Does love stop?  I guess some does.  I heard a gal say once (married 3 times i think) "I will always love my ex'es."  I feel that way.  About...... Elisabeth Shue.... Christina Applegate... Cher.. (hey, I'm old too).. 

494.  Four hundred ninety four words up there before I finally reveal "whyinthehell did I do this blog?"  (Victor, did you really count every single word?... No, I counted one paragraph, it had 38 words, there were 13 paragraphs, so, figured 494 words.) - to get to the purpose.

Blogging, I can't stop.  Sorry.  If it's any consolation, the checkenginelight on my dilapidated 2006 Cadillac DTS 170,000 miles won't stop either.

I wish (the cold would stop.. it would stop raining.. the price of gas/ground beef/toilet paper/beer would stop going up.. that one lady would stop talking..  people would stop asking me how many sides to a stop sign, why everyone knows there are ___ sides to a stop sign.)

D-, maybe a D.

Huh?  If you're not gonna stop, we're gonna start grading your blogs.

Stop.  Please

By William Phelps Eno

Whotheheck is he?  He invented the stop sign in 1900

Love, Victurd

Charlie James got gypped................... or......... What might Petula Clark say?

Baseball Ray......

I know for many of you, hubby sitting down to watch a baseball game might mean you're off to the den, or the kitchen, or the bedroom, to watch Netflix or similar. (And I know MANY families where it's the 'she' that's more into baseball, so it could be hubby bootscooting away from the MLB TV game.)

You may, "because they want to" go with them to a Major League game, but it ain't the same for you as for junkies like me - who feel, walking into and catching glimpse of, the perfectly green, perfectly manicured specter in front of you - it's simply a slice of heaven.

Inotherwords, this may all bore you, and that's ok, I've bored people here long before now and will continue to do so as long as my hands type and my brain, kinda, works.

I remember, as a kid, trips with my folks thru smalltown USA.  Virtually every town we came to - on the outskirts, there was a ballfield. I wanted dad to pullover, grab my glove and bat and try them all. That, of course, would be contrary to over the river and thru the woods to grandmother's house we must go, so we didn't, couldn't.  Didn't stop me from loving every single baseball field we came upon.

As a small child, living in Jeff City and points East (Jeff, St. Charles, St, Louis) my first Major League Baseball experience was Busch Stadium. It was pertier than Ann Margaret, sturdier than Tarzan, and I felt more at home than when I was 'with' Andy, Barney and Ope.

A move - (to KC suburb Liberty) across the State.  From one of the very best teams in MLB, to one of the very worst, the A's. That's ok, Municipal Stadium was the bomb.  Same green as Busch.  If dad went with us, we tried to park at Sam's (connected to the stadium, a gravel parking lot, in thinking back, I wonder how many of my fellow rock-chucking lads tossed one thru the windshield of a car as we walked to the game.) If Sam's was full, dad would pick a nearby neighbor's yard, where, for $2, they would promise to make sure no one disturbed the car. If dad was on a sale's trip, mom and I went to/fro the game via bus, WHAT a treat!

Oh my, the greenery.  The symmetry.  The bunny rabbit who came up out of the ground near home plate to give the ump more baseballs.  The bugs on the lamps at night.  The names we grew to know so well, Lumpe, Cerv, Siebern, Herzog...  The green bats they gave us snotnoses on Bat Day. The amplification of the God-like sounding public address guy..  We were THE very first team in baseball to have our City name stitched across the front of our uni's, backed by an owner who proclaimed "My intentions are to keep the A's permanently in Kansas City and build a winning ball club. I have no intention of ever moving the franchise." I still loved me some Stan the Man, and of course Charlie James.. but the A's were growing on me.

After the 1967 season, that owner moved the team to Oakland.  I didn't know hate. Well, I hatred snakes.  I never even knew anyone that had been divorced, and I for sure had never heard of pergatory - but there we were.  All dressed up, no team to go follow.

1969, Mr. K to save the day. Two more years of Municipal Stadium, then a brand spankin' new Baseball Park, not to mention a stadium for the Chiefs and an airport for all the ooutta towners to fly into to come witness same.  It was a time of growth. Kansas City was right up town!

I was admittedly sad the last time I had Bryants BBQ , the last time I was able to park in Sams, or a yard across the street.  Last time to see the bunny.

But holy smokes, the new Stadium, we could bbq hot dogs AND play a BIG OLE game of touch football (or wiffle ball)  in the parking lot.  The fountains.  Again, the greenery, perfection, symmetry - truly, a thing of beauty.  The crown on the scoreboard, yum. Not long after, I/we thought we was all growed up, beer mighta been involved, we'd by $5 tickets and by the 8th inning, we'd worked our way down to seats reasonably close to home plate.  I was probably on TV drinking.  Assuredly not a good thing.

That was 53 years ago.  Since, 'firsts' taking a son, 'grandkids'.  Four World Series. Champions twice. 1985, Game 6 (yes, the Denkinger game) was THE LOUDEST I've ever heard a crowd when Dane Iorg, bottom of the 9th, down 1-0, one out, Iorg singles home Sundberg and Wathan for the walkoff win.  I understand the 2014 Wild Card game was louder, wish I woulda been there.

Game 7, 1985 my ex and I had seats right behind home plate.  In the very last row of the stadium.  I had a blue shirt, took magic marker to it, drew a picture of Missouri, designated KC and STL, adorned with the wording "May the West Team win!"  The rest, inka Denk a Denk, is history.

I was OK, after awhile, when we moved to A's Country.

Took a couple years, but I was OK once Mr. K founded the Royals.  I was sad, last game at Municipal, would never again be able to see the kids in the upper reaches of the football bleachers at Lincoln High School peeking over into see the A's. But I was ok, eventually, when The K was built.

Victor, whotheheck is Charlie James? After Stan the Man retired, Charlie, played left field, was my very favorite St. Louis Cardinal player in the early 60's for St. Louis.  Charlie fell out of favor (not mine) and was eventually traded to make room for some guy named Brock from the Cubs.  Somehow, I was OK eventually.

The hell does Petula Clark have to do with all this?

When you're alone and life is making you lonely you can always go, Downtown.  When you've got worries all the noise and the hurries, seems to help I know, Downtown.

WHAT?  YOU'RE GONNA MOVE US WHERE?  John Sherman, new owner of the Royals, announces transparent intent to move the Royals downtown.  Lease on present stadium expires in ten years, would like to move before then.

Selfishly, I'm agin' it. I love the ease of getting in my car in Liberty, being in the lot, then in the stadium in my seat in just about 30 minutes.

I've had my time.  I made it past James.  Made it from Busch, to Municipal, to Kauffman.  I'm still here, with t-shirts left in my dresser of The Cardinals, the A's and the Royals.

We knew this was coming.  We're old, we don't like change.  Dadgummit the coffee filters usedta be in a paper goods ailse, whyintheheck did you move 'em over by the Folgers Coffee? Dear City fathers, it takes a heck of a lot longer now to get from A to B with that dadgum new stoplight you put in.

"They say", it won't cost taxpayers any additional. (Extension of the existing tax must be approved, there are many old folks like me in Jackson County, i worry about that.)  "They say" there will be added revenues (hotels, bars, restaurants, businesses, apartments, condos, yada.)  "They say" actually MORE tax dollars than present to KC.  "They say" we'll figure parking out.

If "They say" holds true - PROMISE to use the extra funds for payroll.  We need it, our city deserves it.

I say, selfishly, I don't want it (downtown), but it's in all likelihood what folks 20 to 50 want.  I'm ok with that.  

I've seen enough, sat through enough, been distraught enough, been jubilated enough, i can sit next to sonny boy and say "Now listen here you little whippersnapper... back in my day........" and tell any one of 2,000 stories. (Including the one from 1980, after we FINALLY beat the gosh darn Yankees.. we happened to be parked RIGHT BY the Yankee team bus.  Reggie had struck out in a Big Big at bat.  He was watching us.  Hamp was the pretend pitcher. Sanford was the pretend lefthanded batting Reggie, I was the pretend umpire. Hamp thru, STRIKE ONE (And we looked up at Reg)..  Next toss, STRIKE TWO!  (Reg not smiling)..  One more, STRIKE THREE!  We all did knee slappers whilst staring at the bus.  Ah, he, his ego back then, he earned it.

When you're alone and life is making you lonely you can always go, Downtown.

I/we have had our time, it's ok.

Love, Victurd