Dedicated to my Dad Jack E. McMillan and Coach Jack Colescott, Marion Giants, Marion, Indiana
LAUGHTER’S BALL GAME
March 22, 2006
René Remington
Laughter of the day as a basketball came sailing down my creek at 20 miles an hour. I have grown so accustom to rushing tides that I made myself go and out and stand on the deck to absorb the ions from the flow.
Gosh a basketball raced by, memories flooded my mind. My DAD would have loved this one. Remembrances from friends running down the court, me cheering, Dad keeping score in his score books. Back Home Again in INDIANA and Hoosier Hysteria reins and here it was March 22nd championship Day on that day in 1968, we were to win State. Marion Giants. We did not. In the last 5 seconds, a steal and a shot by Indianapolis Washington star George McGinnis would put the 27-0 Marion Giants as runners up. No Carrot for Us….we cried and the newspaper got us on film.
All the while I stood in the mid March chill of a muddy rushing water fall and rain covering my hair. The grass was growing in the very instant. It was brighter than a flicker, in spite of the dark clouds overhead. My angel sign freshly painted stood stately next the purple Iris which looks drenched.. She had accepted her first watering of the spring.
The stump of my old oak tree still held bravely to its roots as I had watched it‘s foundation erode for the past four years. A new log had joined it crosswise to take up some of the force of the raging water upon the trunk.
Would it survive this latest deluge? Or would it like the basketball seek a new adventure in the rush of the waves. And me, I waited and I watched. I did not know whether to pray it would stay or pray it would go. So I watched and I waited hoping not to influence its’ decision.
A bird chirped loudly as the breeze picked up. He was on my right among the trees nestled along the bank. I did not spot him. I am cold standing in my tan slippers, jeans and sweatshirt from Gonzaga University, School of Law….NO I never went there the shirt is part of the name of a man I love. I’m going in now, I’m chilled and a cup of tea would do me well.
