It Was A Beautious Evening

We had some really nice weather here in Calgary, until Sunday November the 9th. We woke up to a few centimeters of snow covering everything. We had planned on going to visit our daughter in Edmonton, but decided it likely was not safe to travel on the busy Highway QE2. We heard from someone later that their friends had come into Calgary from Red Deer, normally an hour and a half drive, and it took them 5 hours, as they had to take a long detour because Highway #2 was closed. That made me quite relieved that I had stayed home. Our friends had tickets to a guitar duet event on Mount Royal University campus Sunday night, but weren’t able to go, so they offered their tickets to us. My wife and I were able to walk to the concert, just a little over 5 minutes away, so we didn’t have to drive on the slick streets to get there. We were so glad we were able to attend. The tickets read that they were Row A, seats 1 and 2, but we didn’t really know what that would mean, haven’t never been in the theatre before. Well, they were the best seats in the house! We were only a few feet from the two performers, and could easily witness their finger movements, their facial expressions and their body and head movements. It was a sensational concert. The performers were the Assad brothers, Sergio and Odair, born in Brazil, of Lebanese, Italian and Portuguese descent. They were fantastic! They performed classical guitar compositions, one after the other, and continued after a short intermission. They performed a dissonant composition by a recent Argentine artist. They finished the evening with a piece that another person had composed especially for them. After a standing ovation, they performed an encore, and then came out for one last curtain call. Odair kept clapping for the audience, a gesture I have seen many times with international soccer players. It was so soothing to listen to these talented artists, both around 60 years old. It was also so cool to see their exciting finger work, sometimes tapping on the guitars with hands, fingers, knuckles and finger tips. They would occasionally glance at the other’s fingers, as if they were feeding off each other’s energy. I had never heard of these performers before, but they are world renowned classical guitarists. They have traveled extensively internationally. Sergio is on faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, while Odair is based in Brussels, Belgium where he teaches at Ecole Supérieure des Arts. Sergio is also a composer, providing arrangements for Yo-Yo Ma, and many others. Following the concert, we were served with delightful mushroom caps, asparagus wraps, veggies and dip, and fresh fruit. That was so cool to relax and munch, and rave about the wonderful concert. Then, the brothers, all packed up to leave for their next venue, were walking through the crowd in the foyer. Some people stopped them to talk, and I managed to sneak in, shake the hand of each performer, and tell them how very much I enjoyed the concert. They both really appreciated the gratitude, and Odair started chuckling to me, that it was really great to see someone in the front row who was enjoying their concert so much. That made me chuckle also, that I was actually noticed during the performance. My wife and I raved about the concert all the way home, and for quite some time afterwards, back in our house. It was such a nice change from sitting at home and watching television. It was just an amazing experience for me that I will remember for a long time.

Laffing it up at the Stampede

While sitting at a picnic table at the Calgary Stampede next to an older woman, my wife stretched and accidentally glanced her elbow against the other woman. After my wife apologized, I looked at the other woman and asked: "Do you need a good lawyer?" The woman looked back at me and asked: "Do you mean you?" I responded: "No, a GOOD lawyer." (Nyuk, nyuk)

Rest in Peace, Steve

I am greatly saddened by the news today of the death of my hero, Steve Sabol, the President of NFL Films. In an earlier blog (Wednesday, March 9, 2011) I recounted how one of Sabol's movies, NFL Football Follies, had a pronounced effect on my young daughter's health, one scary night more than two decades ago. We will miss you, Steve. You left this life far, far too early.

Ode to Robert Meachem

Where have you gone, oh, Robert Meachem?

A free agent, the Saints can’t keep him.

To San Diego, way out West;

I’ll miss you, but you’re still the best!

Thursday Night Football with the surging Oakland Raiders, the Fickle Media and the Fictional NFL Rules Committee

It was a most enjoyable evening for the 2011 opener of NFL Network Thursday Night Football, I must say, although, ironically, the game is blacked out locally on NFL Network. Thank you, Rogers SportsNet for picking up the broadcast for a football starved fan like me. Let me break down this two-thirds rant into three components: 1. The Fickle Media; 2. The Fictional Rules created by the NFL Rules Committee; and finish on a positive note with 3. The sheer enjoyment of watching some fine football by some original AFL West rivals, the Oakland Raiders and the San Diego Chargers.
1. a) I had forgotten from last season how that the initial half hour of the Thursday Night Football telecast was a complete waste of viewing time, filled only by talking heads trying their best to predict what the outcome of the game would be. Like most, if not all, other football commentators, they base their prognostications on the recent past. How silly. With one exception, all the broadcasters on this night were pretty sure that the Raiders had no hope of winning, and that San Diego just had to come out of its funk and go on to a Super Bowl berth. At the conclusion of the game, when they all interviewed winning quarterback Carson Palmer, not one of the "experts" said to Palmer that they had predicted wrongly that he would lose the game tonight. Stupidity coupled with no class. b) In the Raiders' previous game, a loss, they were basically done in by taking too many penalties. On this night the Raiders were playing a much more disciplined game, and were ahead in the score with no penalties, half way through the second quarter. At that point the Raiders were called for holding, and the announcers and the Network instantly pounced on Oakland, trotting out their graphic showing the Raiders leading the league in penalties, not only this season, but several of the top ten seasons in NFL history. No mention was made of the highly disciplined game that the Raiders were currently playing. It was as if the Network had its graphic ready to use at the first moment of penalization, and they were going to milk it for all it was worth, even though it really didn't fit during the Raiders' superb performance this evening. c) As star running back Darren McFadden was out with a foot injury, fullback/halfback Michael Bush was given the major work load at rushing the ball. Bush was incredible on this night, powering through the line on several occasions, and breaking a couple of long runs, one on a screen pass. However, NFL Network's Mike Mayock, in his infinite wisdom, comments that, with no disrespect to Michael Bush on one of his long gains, if it had been Darren McFadden with the ball, the play would have resulted in a touchdown. How does Mayock know that? Is he suddenly The Amazing Kreskin? Sure, maybe McFadden scores on a similar play, but there are no guarantees that he would have gone further on Bush's impressive run. I know that Mayock has a brilliant football mind, but sometimes he is just a clueless babbler.
2. a) Sebastian Janikowski has a sore hamstring, so the Raiders tried a fake punt from the Chargers' 34 yard line on their first drive. Punter Shane Lechler threw a pass to Jacoby Ford, who was mauled by Quentin Jammer because pass interference can't be called in a punt formation. At this point in the game, I was pretty sure that this was the stupidest rule ever, but that will actually come later. First of all, please define "punt formation". If a team is in a T formation or a Shotgun formation, then suddenly decides to have someone quick kick, is that punt formation? If so, then if they had a bad snap and threw a pass, does that mean there could be no pass interference on such a play? What if the punter comes forward at the last minute into a Shotgun or T formation; does that take it out of punt formation so there could be pass interference? It just seems wrong to me that a defender can completely clobber a pass receiver on a fourth down pass by the team's punter. b) Chargers receiver Vincent Brown appeared to come down with another great touchdown catch in the third quarter, this one for 33 yards. But referee Ed Hochuli overturned it on replay, saying that since the defender landed out of bounds with his hand on the ball, it was considered out of bounds. In fairness to Mike Mayock, he nailed this one. Mayock knew the rule inside and out, and kept telling the play by play announcer that the touchdown might be overturned. When the pass was ruled an incompletion, I could not believe my eyes or ears. The NFL Rules Committee has created a complete fiction that resulted in the stupidest of results. Vincent Brown came down with the ball in his abdominal area, and he grabbed the ball with his hands as he secured complete possession from the defender. Nearly all of Brown's body was in bounds, including all the important parts, the feet, the knees and the butt. Part of his shoulder was touching the out of bounds line, but he had the ball in bounds. According the the rule, apparently, that wasn't good enough. Although the ball never touched the ground or went out of bounds, and the receiver's feet and knees were in bounds, he was somehow deemed to be out of bounds. The Rules Committee has made a complete mockery of reality. They have created a fiction that is just plain stupid.
3. Apart from my being appalled at the stupidity of both the media and the NFL rules, I was overjoyed to witness a great football game, in old AFL tradition. Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer threw two touchdown passes and Michael Bush ran 30 times for a season-high 157 yards and one touchdown to lead the Oakland Raiders to a 24-17 win over San Diego. The Chargers offensive line looked dismal most of the night and lost left tackle Marcus McNeill, right guard Louis Vasquez and linebacker Takeo Spikes to injuries. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers was sacked on consecutive plays near midfield to end the game and fumbled on the final play. Rivers was sacked six times in total as the Raiders overwhelmed Brandyn Dombrowski, who replaced McNeill at left tackle. The Raiders rush was relentless, as Rivers could be seen going off the field several times and shrugging his shoulders to his head coach, as if to say: "What else can I do?" Of course I was happy that the Raiders won the game, as I have been cheering for them ever since the 1977 Super Bowl. But, it was just so good to see some great football action, with power running, short and long passing, fumbles and interceptions. A great evening overall, and I can't wait until the Raiders and Chargers' next meeting on New Year's Day 2012.

Derek "Mr Hobbie" Klivian, 2000-2011

Rest in peace little neurotic kitty. My bed won't be the same without you ♥ (Taken from Bethany Luther's Facebook status, April 27, 2011)

Coming home to only one cat is one of the hardest things I've ever done. I miss you so much, Hobbie :(
(Bethany Luther Facebook status, May 7, 2011)

Reg and Me

At an event in the early ‘70s, my father gave a tribute to his neighbours, Reg and Audrey Watson. He told of how his own children loved to go and stay at the neighbours’ home when the children were little. He said that the neighbours, Reg and Audrey Watson, must be really good people if your kids want to go stay there all the time.

When I was a young boy, I spent so much time at Reg and Audrey Watson’s that I began telling people that my name was “Marvin Watson”. Everyone thought it was very cute. This phenomenon of my calling myself “Marvin Watson” was really not all that surprising. Reg and Audrey were like my own parents, because I spent so much time there and they treated me like I was their own child. It was also not surprising because Reg was always so good to me, like he was my real dad. Why Reg was always good to me is a bit of a mystery, as I certainly gave him occasion to act otherwise.

Audrey got to take care of me at age five while the rest of my family were on a vacation to the U.S. Audrey had to wash my bum thoroughly everyday that my family was gone, as I had a severe toilet training problem. Apparently, when Audrey had to be away for awhile, then Reg got to look after me, and he had to wash my posterior. I never heard about either of them complaining about having to do so. Never. In fact, I don’t remember Reg ever complaining about me, even when I did stupid things as a kid.

On one particular occasion, I took an old broken tine from a pitch fork and proceeded to smash it against the windshield of an “abandoned” pickup truck in Reg’s yard. Although the truck was not being used, the windshield was still in good condition, at least before I covered it with cracks, rendering it useless. I heard later that Reg was angry about it, but he never chewed me out, nor told my parents. Years later, when I apologized for my stupidity, he just shrugged it off, saying it was no big deal, and gave me a big smile.

I remember attending the Regina Exhibition with my parents, and Reg and Audrey one year where we got to take in a country music show. Once we found five seats together, the adults sent me to purchase some pop for our group. When I got back and was making my way to my seat, I managed to spill some cold Pepsi down the back of Reg’s shirt. Reg arched his back from the cold discomfort as he glanced over at me, but never said a word to me. What a trooper.

Reg gave me a little pig for my birthday one year. I was very excited to own my own hog, and proceeded to name the piglet, John Weed, for some unknown reason. Eventually, John Weed grew up into this enormous boar that we used on our farm for several years.

When I was a boy, my parents decided to undertake a major upgrade to our farm house. This involved moving another farm house, joining it to the existing structure and totally redoing the roof. It was an enormous project. After harvest was finished, my dad was into the construction in earnest. And Reg came to help, virtually every day. I would come home from school on the school bus, and there was Reg, high up on the ladder helping my dad nail boards onto the wall studs and the roof rafters. My dad said that he didn’t know how he was going to pay Reg for all his help, and Reg just smiled back.

Back in the ‘70s, my Dad became very ill suddenly and my Mom phoned Reg to drive them to the hospital. While my Dad was being treated, Reg waited with my Mom in the waiting room for several hours and wouldn’t leave her to wait by herself. He didn’t say much, but he was there for both my parents, as a loving, caring friend.

The Watsons were so cool to us Luthers, as they had running water. I would get to go down to their house and take a bath in a real bathtub. They didn’t have a lock on the bathroom door yet, so Reg, realizing that a young boy could be embarrassed or insecure, just told me to shove the bathroom weigh scale up against the door so no one else would come in during my bath. He was always looking out for me.

Reg was so proud of his beautiful little red haired girl, Rosaleen, later called Rusty. My siblings and I grew up just three quarters of a mile from the Watson farm and we were all blessed to watch Rusty grow up along with us. Reg always encouraged Rusty with raising horses and enjoying the outdoors.

Later on Reg was blessed to have a son, Kevin, during Canada’s centennial year. I also enjoyed watching Kevin grow up, and to see how his dad took an interest in all his activities. Our family would spend Boxing Day with the Watsons, and during Kevin’s first Christmas, I don’t know who was more excited showing off Kevin’s new toys, Reg or Reg, Jr.

After high school, I was away from the community for a few years getting more education, but then got married and moved back to the farm near the Watsons, and near where I was raised. It was interesting and wonderful as an adult, getting to know Reg even better, as my neighbour and friend. He was always there, with an encouraging word, some advice and that friendly smile.

Reg sold me my first horse. I wasn’t much of a horse trader, so I just paid the man what he wanted. I figured, you can’t beat the cost of delivery, as I just rode the horse a mile and a half home, with my wife driving the truck home. I knew also that Reg would sell me a good horse, and I always appreciated that. That horse was so gentle; all my little girls could safely ride him.

During the long, bitterly cold winter of 1981-82, Reg’s snowplough was my best friend. My wife and I and our little toddler were blocked in most of that winter. Reg must have cringed every time he heard my voice on the telephone asking him to plough our road. But he never complained. One time after an extended blizzard, Reg ploughed the road into our yard, and then came into the house for a cup of coffee. We were experiencing cabin fever so bad, that we begged Reg not to leave, but to stay a little longer. He must have thought we were both crazy, but to my wife and me, he was like a long lost friend come to visit that day.

Reg gave me my first flock of chickens. It happened one autumn when he was going to be away for a few days, which was a rare occurrence. Reg had asked me to look after his eight hens, then told me that I was welcome to just take them home for myself, if I liked. I took him up on the offer and, for the next few years, I enjoyed having fresh eggs on my farm, courtesy of Reg. Reg did his best at helping to set me up with farming, providing me with a pig, a horse and some chickens.

The year the municipality built up an access road to my farm that would suit winter conditions, Reg was at his finest. When I talked to the councilor about building up an existing road out to Highway #36, we agreed that was a good idea. However, when the councilor talked to Reg about it, Reg told him he was crazy to build up that road, as nobody would want to drive their tractor long distances on the highway to plough me out when the road was blocked. Reg could be very convincing, as the councilor changed his mind, and decided to build the road between Reg and me. As the winter of 1981-82 played out, with Reg ploughing me out more conveniently, on a regular basis, it proved that Reg was a genius.

Before that nasty winter, when my winter road was being built up, Reg got the contract to rebuild the pasture fence that had to be removed for back sloping the hills along the road. I remember helping Reg while he was building the new fence. I think he must have been about 57 years old then, but he was behaving more like a twenty something. He was literally running up and down and over those side hills, stretching wire, pounding posts and hammering staples. Man, it wore me out just watching him work. And he was just loving it.

Years later I moved to the city with my family, and I didn’t have much contact with Reg for a long time. However, many years later, there was a McKechnie reunion in Moose Jaw. I had previously been in touch with a cousin from out of province who was going to be at the reunion, so I drove down from Saskatoon to see him in Moose Jaw. When I got to the reunion, the cousin from out of province was not there, but there was Reg to greet me.

I wasn’t registered for the reunion, but Reg took me under his wing and treated me royally. He got me some food on his tab and made sure I was looked after. He even made sure I was put in contact with some other Luther relatives at the reunion. Although I didn’t get to see the cousin, it was just wonderful to hook up again with Reg, who never stopped smiling at me all day.

Over the next few years I went to see Reg at his home in Moose Jaw several times, staying overnight once, and getting Reg to deliver me to the bus depot on another occasion. Each time he treated me like a king, just like when I was a little boy in his house on the farm so many years ago. I also got to meet up with Reg a few times at a Moose Jaw restaurant when I was passing through town. He was always so glad to see me, and I enjoyed our time together.

It was fun talking to Reg. You could talk farming, world issues, movies, family and the good old days. You didn’t really have to be careful what you said, as Reg was just happy to be talking to you. As a Calgarian, I was looking forward so much to visiting Reg in his new home in Red Deer, and I am crushed that that won’t happen. I treasure the times I got to spend with Reg, just being with him. He always made me feel good about myself.

Reg was like my own father to me and, as I grew older, Reg was also my friend. He was a loving, caring person to me. I admire you, Reg, for being a good person and for always being so good to me. Thank you for your unconditional love and friendship. I love you and I will miss you a whole lot.