A Day of Hockey

I was having a lazy day and had just gotten to rolling out of bed when the phone rang. It was George asking me if Peter and I wanted to go to a Lightning game. Peter had to work, but I was up for it. Afterward he had an extra ticket to the Lightning College Classic Tournament. WOW a whole day of hockey! George Fred and i met up at Tucsons at 11:30, had a few beers and headed off to the game. Tickets were at will call and the game started at 1.
We got there and found that 2 tickets were for the lower level and 2 were for the AFS Club (formerly the XO Club) Since there were only three of us we asked if we could trade in the 2 lower levels for 1 Club ticket. They happily accommodated us. So off to the AFS Club we went. Complimentary beer, wine and soda and all the food we could eat. OK I am in heaven! My motto, "If its free its for me". Everywhere I looked....... hot dogs, meatballs, quesadillas, pretzels, popcorn, waffles, french toast, sausage, roasted potatoes, cakes and cookies, all for the taking. And beer, soda and wine sweet wine.................
The game itself was good until the third period. Then the Lightning just threw it away like the do so often.....that's ok...the wine was making me feel quite alright with losing......The first of 2 college games started and hour afterward. We hung out in the AFS Club for that game and sucked up more booze. Notre Dame was playing UMass. A very good game with UMass winning. The second game was RPI vs Colorado. We decided to move down to the lower level and watch the game from 3 rows back. What a great game that was. RPI was up 2 to nothing by the end of the second. Colorado came back to tie the game late in the third and then win the game with 7 seconds to go. AWESOME BABY!
The whole day was great. It meant so much to me that George and Fred remembered me and asked me to go. I hadn't seen or spoken to either in quite some time and often felt I had neglected them over the past year or so. Being with them was great and all the reasons they are two of my dearest friends smacked me over the head and reminded me not to neglect them like that again. I had great conversation, laughed joked and had time just fly by. Watching the college games brought back a lot of memories of Peters high school days of hockey. The sound of blades gliding and sliding across ice was a well missed sound. The camaraderie and chatter among the team mates was enjoyable to hear and even the once hated smell of hockey gear was a welcomed odor. I remembered how I loved to watch him play......the ease with which he moved over the ice, the grace, yes grace, he had........ the ringing of the slap shots he took that at the right distance could dent the goalies cage.........Peter had speed and power on the ice and the team could be losing but watching him move and play was what truly made me happy. Today brought all that back and made me realize how much I miss the game and watching my son play.
Two more games tomorrow and more happy memories. Thanks guys for bringing me along. :)