Are you ready for some football?
For as much as this area is big on football, I’m not ready. Nope, not me.
I’m clingingo onto summer as long as I can, even though the sun sets before 8 p.m. now. We’re losing 2.5 minutes of daylight every 24 hours that passes and I’m not liking that, either.
You have those who feel the hot, humid, griminess of summer can’t go away fast enough, but not me.
I don’t mind cutting my grass at 8 p.m. on a hot steamy day.
I loved playing tennis when it was 90 degrees in a blaring sun.
I enjoy a warm summer breeze on my face.
I love when it gets dusky at 9 p.m.
So for as much as there are summer haters and winter lovers, I’m just the opposite.
Call me crazy, but in the middle of winter when sundown is at 4:30 p.m., 8 p.m. rolls around and it’s been dark for nearly four hours, I’m the guy thinking, “Hey, if it was summer, I’d be cutting the grass about now.”
Don’t get me wrong; autumn is great, too. Sometimes, I tussle between summer and fall as my favorite months. I think I love fall because of two things — the autumn leaves changing and my birthday in September. Okay, okay, Sept. 12 is not exactly autumn, but admit it, when school starts back, it’s like the unofficial start of fall.
I know week one of high school football started this past Friday and, since I’m writing this before the games even begin, I have no idea who was successful. I can only hope both local school districts were victorious and have successful seasons.
I do know Wyoming Area head coach Randy Spencer will be at the helm again this season but controlling the team from a different vantage point – the press box.
Randy had a heart procedure several weeks ago and is still recovering so he’s going to be perched up top for a while as he continues to rehab and heal.
We all receive a good kick in the butt every once in a while and Randy is no different. But he’s a trooper and loves the game of football — and he’s all gold, green and white.
Football aside, I hope Randy will command with caution and know his limits. We all want to see him around for a very long time.
Good luck in your recovery, Randy and best of luck with the season.
Four and over
It’s hard to believe the Tomato Festival is now a memory and a week since it’s passed. It’s an exhaustive four days and the festival committee members do an unheralded job, working tirelessly before and during the event.
Many of you may have had your fill of reading and hearing about the festival, but honestly, it’s probably the biggest event we have in Greater Pittston – no, I believe it IS the biggest event in Greater Pittston.
I’ve spoken to many people in our area who either don’t bother going to the festival or have never been there for one reason or another.
Maybe you don’t like crowds, maybe you don’t like music, maybe you don’t like tomatoes but, whatever the reason is, you really should get to the festival one time.
I believe with the third tier added, the crowds did seem more scattered than years past. The top tier is the diamond in the rough that will, I’m sure, take on different looks over the next few years until festival organizers feel it is being utilized optimally.
The top tier had plenty of art, food, wine and cheese for sale and, while you were up there, you heard some pretty good music. The amphitheater worked to perfection and will be a great asset to the city for many years to come.
The acoustics are perfect and there’s enough terrain surrounding the amphitheater that it really shouldn’t be a burden to the surrounding area.
I envision a beautiful night with the sun setting while a soft acoustic set is played or, better yet, how about a night of the symphony?
Really, the amphitheater ideas are endless.
Saturday morning started out a bit shaky with the rains, but once the cell passed over us and beyond, the sun came out and it was, once again, back to summer.
The 5K race and 1.5-mile walk went off without a hitch as did the parade and tomato fight.
Saturday could not have been a better day for events; whatever the organizers did to get a perfect day worked.
This year saw the omission of Sauce Wars and the tomato pageant. Sauce Wars was popular but it was very staff heavy for coverage of the booth and was impossible to do this year.
The pageant has, according to organizers, run its course. It probably won’t be back.
However, Little Miss and Little Mister Tomato will continue. This contest is always fun to attend and the kids are adorable. Some of the children get a bit shy before show time but, for the most part, all the children have a great time and parents and grandparents are proud as peacocks.
Next up… Paint Pittston Pink.
Quote of the week
“Sometimes you wake up. Sometimes the fall kills you. And sometimes, when you fall, you fly.” – Neil Giaman
Thought of the week
“If there is a single lesson that life teaches us, it’s that wishing doesn’t make it so.” – Lev Grossman
Bumper sticker
“Only the dead have seen the end of war.” – Plato
