Posted in Fun

Smokey Followed Me Home

Me, Butch, and Smokey

Hang in with me, folks. I have a good story for you.

 

About three weeks ago, I pulled our car in front of the University of Tennessee Medical Center as Helen came through the front door in a wheelchair. She had hip replacement surgery the day before and was now released to go home and continue her recovery. All had gone exceptionally well, but she was still a bit loopy from the pain medication. Nevertheless, I asked for one favor.

 

“Honey, I said, I need to make one stop at a remote broadcast of WNML (Sports Radio).

 

“Why?”

 

“Well, they’re giving away an RV, and I want to put my name in the hopper.”

 

“We already have an RV,” she says through her loopy-ness.

 

“I know, but this way we will have his and hers RVs. Besides, we’re not going to win anyway.”

 

She relented, then dozed off as I drove to Image Matters, a printing and copying business, and the site of the remote broadcast. I entered the lobby and found the announcers in the conference room. They continued their radio show while I filled out two entry slips—one for me and one for my loopy cutie in the car. As we drove home, I heard Eric Ainge, former Tennessee quarterback turned sports radio host, tell the audience that he was about to pull one name from the entry box and that the person who’s named he called would qualify for a reverse raffle on September 28 to win The Ultimate Tailgate Camper. Eric pulled out an entry slip with my name on it and announced it over the radio. I was in!

The Ultimate Tailgate Camper

 

Being an avid sports fan in general, and a Tennessee football fan in particular, I listen to WNML, known as the “Sports Animal” almost every day. And, nearly every day, I would hear the names of additional qualifiers announced for the same drawing. About a week before the reverse raffle, I received a call from a producer at the radio station telling me that I needed to arrive at Buddy Gregg RV before 11:00 am on the 28th to register for the drawing. I asked how many entrants qualified for the raffle. He told me they expected about 225. No way would I ever get through that gauntlet.

Qualifiers signing in on day of drawing

 

On that Saturday morning, I let Helen know I was leaving. She said she wanted to come but was moving a little slow and would arrive later. “Ok,” I said, then picked up the keys to Butch, the truck we use to pull our fifth-wheel trailer. Before I drove away, I had the thought that maybe I should take our trailer hitch with me. At first, I felt that by taking the hitch, I would jinx the deal, but I threw it in the truck bed—we weren’t going to win anyway, but let’s think positive.

 

I arrived at Buddy Gregg RV around 10:15. The registration line was long and snaked around The Ultimate Tailgate Camper wrapped with pictures depicting game day activities for Tennessee football and logos for the sponsors—Buddy Gregg RV, WNML, and Hound Dogs, a very popular retailer of Tennessee clothing and merchandise. Finally, I reached the registration table where a lady from the station pulled a pre-printed slip with my name on it to place in a capsule. Just before she closed the capsule, she dropped the slip. 

 

“Uh-Oh, I said, that’s not a great sign.”

 

“I don’t know; it may be a good one, she replied, that’s the only one I’ve dropped so far.”

 

While I waited for the drawing to begin at 11:00, I stuck my head in The Ultimate Tailgate Camper to get a feel for it. It is a 2020 Heartland Prowler 180rb, measuring 22 feet long with dual wheels, a plus. There is a queen bed in the front, a very nice refrigerator, microwave, and a large oven by camper standards. A bathroom, complete with a tub shower and plenty of storage filled the rear of the trailer. The entire camper has excellent storage. The dinette is roomy and has a custom-made table-top that many former football players have personally autographed. Also, the winner would receive Tennessee tailgate gear such as pop-up shelters, tables, chairs, cornhole games, serving dishes, stadium cushions, stadium blankets, and $400 worth of gift certificates—all from Hound Dogs! I walked away, very impressed. The value of the camper and the goodies totaled well over $20,000!

Jeff Jarnigan starts the show

 

Finally, the time for the drawing arrived at about the same time Helen walked onto the lot. Jeff Jarnagin, a long-time Knoxville radio personality and PA announcer for Tennessee football games, gave an overview of the process. One hundred and sixty-three contestants had shown up to register that morning. Every name called is no longer eligible to win the camper, Jeff said, until we get to the last two contestants. Then, they would pull those two capsules and announce only one name—the winner.

 

If you’re getting bored by now, bear with me a little bit longer.

 

Jeff, and fellow announcers Heather Harrington and Josh Ward, read the names one at a time. Groans, mumbles, and other forms of disappointment filled the air with each name called, and the unsuccessful entrants came forward to receive a “Goody Bag” as a consolation prize. At one point, Josh told the crowd that forty names remained and, a few minutes later, twenty. Heather asked the remaining contestants to move closer. Helen and I looked at each other somewhat stunned because we were among that group of twenty. We’re both pretty superstitious, and neither of us wanted to move from our lucky spots. We had no choice and inched closer to the hopper bearing the last twenty names. Suddenly we’re down to ten, and we haven’t been asked to leave yet.

Couldn’t move or look anyone in the eye

 

With four names remaining, I would not look up and into the eye of anyone pulling names. I just held on to my cane (bad knee) to keep from falling over. Now, we’re down to two—a gentleman named Virgil and me. Heather and Josh prolonged the suspense, and I shook Virgil’s hand, wishing him luck.

 

There was another pause in the activity until the radio broadcast returned from a break and prepare for the winner’s name to be announced on the air. Jeff walked over and introduced himself to Virgil, then turned to Helen and me to ask which of us had our name in the hopper. I replied that I was the entrant and I had brought my good luck charm with me. Helen got a hug, and I got good luck wishes from Jeff.

 

Finally, Josh reached for the last two capsules and pulled a name from one of them, then looked at Virgil. My heart sank. He announced the winner’s name.

Guess who won? It wasn’t Virgil! (left)

 

Virgil got sent home, and I was the last man standing.

 

Completing paperwork inside Ultimate Tailgate Camper

During the next half hour, Helen’s faced almost cracked; she smiled so broadly. We completed a stack of paperwork and tax forms. I had time to give The Ultimate Tailgate Camper a new name…Smokey, in honor of the Tennessee mascot, a Blue Tick hound of the same name. I pulled out the trailer hitch I thought I wouldn’t need and hooked up the camper to Butch. Smokey followed me home. By now, I was whistling a chorus of Rocky Top, and joyfully, Easin’ Along.

Heather and Josh from WNML-FMThe Sports Animal

Posted in Fun

Fraternity Party – 50 Years After Graduation

A lot of Catching up to do!
SAE logo

About two weeks ago, I received an email from a longtime friend and classmate that several members from our college fraternity planned to gather in Sandestin, Florida for a long weekend of fun and fellowship. I very much wanted to join them, but my attendance depended on Helen’s recovery from her recent hip replacement surgery. Several days before the date of the event, Helen walked a mile through the streets of our neighborhood. I applauded her remarkable progress, gave her a big hug, and immediately began packing. Helen agreed that she could spare her full-time nurse for a few days.

I became a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) in 1966 during my freshman year at the University of Tennessee. Our pledge class had 68 members, one of the largest classes in the history of the Tennessee chapter. All of us were baby boomers and members of a very large freshman class.  There were some great guys in that pledge class, and I made many friends and have remained in contact with a number of them over the years, but this gathering would be the first opportunity I would have to see some of these fellows in nearly 50 years.

Class of 1970

After graduation about eight or ten, perhaps more, of our fraternity brothers gathered every other year, usually during a big football weekend in Knoxville to attend the game and spend time together. Several years ago, they acknowledged that no one was getting any younger and decided to have the event every year going forward, and, since about five of them have homes in the Sandestin area, the Florida resort town became a convenient place to bring everyone together. I felt fortunate to be able to join them for this gathering.

View of the Bay

I arrived at the home of my friends Thursday mid-morning. Rob, a member of our pledge class and his wife Becky have a home in Sandestin and offered me a place to stay. Their home, right on the Bay, is lovely and has a great view of the water. Another couple from college days, Mal and Nancy, also were staying there.  After a short run into the town of Sandestin for lunch and a few hours of catch-up conversation, it was time to go to the first of three gatherings planned for the weekend. I was hopeful that all of the names would come back to me.

Except for red hair that was now white, and the addition of about 30 pounds, I didn’t think my appearance had changed much and, to my surprise, their’s hadn’t either.  Every name came back to me except for one.  I struggled to recall the name of a dentist from Nashville and avoided him until his name finally crawled out from deep crevices in my memory bank. There was one more gentleman from my pledge class who had changed completely—short hair now long (and dark), and the loss of a significant amount of weight.  Fortunately, he introduced himself before I had to ask.

Several factors worth mentioning distinguish this group. As mentioned above, we are all baby boomers, children of the Greatest Generation, people who had lived through a Great Depression and a World War and wanted a better life for their children. A better life called for a college degree.  Our generation lived under the shadow of the Viet Nam War…and the draft. That meant that we either stayed in school or stood in line for a pair of combat boots. Therefore, we took our education seriously for the most part and studied hard during the week. We partied just as hard on the weekend. Those days were a lot of fun (I remember most of them).

Over the next two nights in Sandestin, I worked diligently to catch up on the last 50 years in the lives of these men. I didn’t make it around to all of them, but I learned enough to know that each of them represented our generation in an exemplary manner. Included in this group was a Navy pilot who traded in his uniform for a long career in a Federal Express jet. There were professionals in the fields of medicine and engineering. Business professionals included those involved in large scale real estate development, insurance, finance, transportation, travel, retail, manufacturing, and management consulting. The conversations were fascinating and lasted long into the evening (or at least as long as we could stay awake). I’m proud to say I know them.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Tennessee Chapter plus 50 years

Saturday’s schedule called for a barbeque luncheon during the televised Tennessee-Florida football game, but I had to head back to Knoxville.  My drive was longer than most, and I wanted to get back to Helen before she took off to play pickleball on her new hip, or decided to leave me for a better offer. Nevertheless, I brought home some memories of a great time with some great guys who had taken life by the horns, made the best of it, and made the Greatest Generation proud.

Sandestin Bay

I’ll leave you with a picture from a boat ride in the Bay at Sandestin.  Then I’ll be Easin’ Along.

 

Posted in Fundamentals

The Hip Bone’s Connected to the Knee Bone

On Tuesday morning, Helen checked in to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for hip replacement surgery.  Readers may recall that one year ago, Helen replaced one of her knees in March and another knee in June.  For those procedures, we had to check-in at 5:30, but, to demonstrate her true love and devotion for her dear husband, she scheduled this visit for 9:30 so I had time for coffee.

Although we would rather be doing anything besides face another surgery, we both agree that, if this has to happen, the surgeons and staff at the University of Tennessee hospital are the ones to do it. The care is exceptional, the surgeons are incredibly skilled, and everyone involved from check-in to check-out is efficient, professional, and always greet us with a smile. Check-in took just a matter of minutes before a friendly hospital volunteer walked us to the changing room.

New gown and pricey socks

Once in the changing room, Helen was issued a surgery gown, an blue hair net, and, at these prices, a pair of what has to be the most expensive socks on the planet to take home with us. The only thing that has changed since her previous surgery is that the surgery gown is now made cloth instead of blue paper. She held them up for the camera.

Around 10:00 Rachel, an associate minister at our church knocked on the door to visit us.  Rachel came bearing a smile radiant enough to fill the room and offered words of comfort. Two nurses arrived at about the same time to wheel Helen to the pre-op room, but Helen refused to leave until Rachel had time to lead us in prayer. Then Helen was rolled away. “See you later, honey!”  “Thank you Rachel.” We left things in the hands of the surgeon.

After about an hour and a half in the waiting lounge, her surgeon, the same one who performed my hip replacement last year, invited me to join him in a small consultation room. I held my breath for good news.  Helen was his third surgery for that morning and he had the look of someone who needed a break.  The news was all good. Helen did fine and the surgery went well. Thank you again, Rachel…prayer helps.

“Wake up!”

I grabbed some lunch and went to meet Helen in her hospital room. She wasn’t there! Finally, after about another 30 minutes she came rolling in with a cadre of nurses bringing machines, tubes, trays, and IV’s dangling from poles or attached to her in some way. Helen was awake and smiling broadly (as she always is). So far, so good.

A lab technician soon followed her to the room to begin a round of tests by drawing blood samples. Although Helen came to the room in a good mood, things always change when needles are in the vicinity. Fortunately, she was still a little loopy from the anesthetic and the technician completed her work without incident.

Therapist checking things 

Within about an hour, a physical therapist to assess Helen’s condition and offer a few words on how to regain the strength in her hip and legs. The therapist was very thorough and explained things well enough that even a loopy patient could understand. Next, she helped Helen untangle the jumble of tubes and wires before standing her up for her first steps. Bear in mind, she had her replaced only a few hours earlier. Nevertheless, she was up to the challenge and, assisted by the therapist, walked out to the hall and back to the bed. Modern medicine is something else!

Two hours after surgery

I hung around in the room for a few more hours, but I’m not sure she knew I was there as she drifted off a few times, still under the effects of the anesthetic.  After coming around, she ordered a breakfast meal off of the menu on the room television screen, and allowed me to leave. Ordering that breakfast meal made me hungry.

I returned to the hospital the next morning to learn that she surgeon had already completed his rounds and said she could go home. The only thing left to do was attend a class on post-op procedures about when to take medicines, what exercises offered the most help in recovery, and who to call when or if problems arise.  I attended the class as well and found it to be very informative.

One day later…home!

We had no trouble getting her in the front seat of our car and I was amazed at how well she seemed to be doing. We arrived home and she got out of the car and walked in the front door with that smile as bright as ever. We have nothing but great things to say about the experience, but, hopefully, the need for surgery is over…for Helen.  I go in next month for a new knee. Hopefully, that procedure will go as well as this one did and we can resume Easin’ Along very soon. We miss our fifth wheel and the road less traveled.