Chill Canes Game

 So after the high intensity opener against Notre Dame, Saturday night was hosting HBCU Bethune-Cookman, which we knew would be more of a scrimmage.

I had invited my trainer Jonathan, but really hoped he would decline, as I wanted the freedom to stay, or leave, without worrying about anyone else. Sure enough, he texted and said he was feeling under the weather -- I would go alone.

As I got on I-95, my man sized Caddy dash showed a tire issue -- passenger rear had 27 lbs -- 6 less than the other 3. I pulled off at NW 69th Street, and drove up to the air pump. For $1.50 I filled the tire ( recalling when air was free) and saw the problem: a screw was in the tread. I knew it would probably hold, but didn't want to risk it, as I figured it might be tough to get AAA to the tailgate lot after the game, so I drove under the I-95 overpass to 7th Avenue.

Sure enough, in 10 blocks I saw a sign that said "Used Tires," and pulled in -- 2 guys sitting out front, blasting salsa music. They were Cubans of Color, and they asked how they could help. I asked them if they could plug a tire, and they said sure, and looked and immediately saw the offending screw. They turned down the music, and fetched the plug kit, and made quick work of my problem, before saying "ALL your tires need more air -- air if free here" and filled me to 38 lbs. I asked what the charge was, and one fellow responded "$10." Now THAT was the same price I last paid for a plug a decade ago, and I gave him a $20 and said "Man -- you saved my night." He thanked me and said to his companion "Enrique -- we have a caballero here!" Another fellow pulled up, a Black guy in a sweet Benz SUV, and he got out with the same problem. He saw my Canes shirt, which he was also wearing, and we threw up the U to each other. I then drove to the lot more calmly.

I met Mike and Chris and Loni and Rachel, hosting, and Barry and Josh were there, and Norman and Benji, and then returning from Africa, Eric and Dana. It was lovely -- I hadn't planned on a cocktail, but when Josh produced a bottle of Ketel and poured, I couldn't say no.

I also saw Matt, an old friend's boy, who had become an artist, lived in LA for awhile before realizing it sucked there, and moved home with his baby and now ex wife. The baby girl is same age as our Little Man -- starting kindergarten. Matt had a lovely Swiss girlfriend, Lorena, and we told her tales of her boyfriend's childhood.

The game went as expected -- Canes dominated and took out the starters by the 3rd quarter, and we followed the Gator game -- they blew one to USF, who the Canes play next Saturday. I gave up my tix to Phyllis, Barry's sister, since Little Man will be spending the weekend with us, and 4 weekends in a row is a bit much for me. I WILL attend the Gator game in 2 Saturdays -- even though they'll probably have 2 losses by then...

We stayed for the whole game, Barry, Josh, and I, and left in far less hectic circumstances than the prior Sunday. 

Today the Dolphins opened -- and got smacked by Indy. The loss was so bad, it seems as though the Dolphins season is over already.

That's ok -- I say Go Canes!

But tomorrow, there is sadness to deal with . Stu's Mom Mona died, and we will reprise his Dad Bill's funeral from a few months ago. We sort of saw this coming -- Mona was pretty far along with dementia.

We'll drive to Hollywood at 2, and then shiva at Stu's house in Aventura. Last time, we left and in rush hour had a 2 hour drive home. Well, I did -- Wifey slept.

So I made plans to have dinner with D2 on the way home -- to breakup the bad traffic trip after we honor a lovely lady.

Stu is fine -- joked that like most of us in our 60s, he's now an orphan. And he is.

He had his kids a lot later than I did, and I just hope he gets the joy of grandparenting, though it doesn't seem that's coming any time soon.

But tomorrow we will help him with the end of a phase.

People are born and they die. And the Canes play on...