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Monday, January 14, 2019

More Macon Memories

In the 60’s down at Macon’s old Luther Williams Park we’d watch the Peaches, a Reds farm team. Saw Tony Perez and Pete Rose. Every year Tech and UGA would play a baseball game there. Had a pony league teammate whose dad worked for the city recreation department, so my team got to practice at Luther Williams Park. The stadium turns 90 years old this year.  
 
In the early 70’s my sister played that six girl version of basketball in high school, with two on offense, two and defense, and two “rovers” playing on both ends. She also played softball on an old field at our high school that had wooden stands and even a wooden roof, like a stadium. My dad had played softball there as well. Now Central uses it as their baseball field.
 
I practiced rec football on that field at night, under the lights. My coach was a tough old coot who worked us hard, and I thrived under him. Cotton Chaffin. He turned me into a football player. Years later in high school I went out to kick off in an important playoff game. I set down my tee on the 40 yard line and looked up to the referee to get the ball. It was my old coach Cotton Chaffin. Not sure if he recognized me, but I hadn’t changed much.   
 
Friday night I stumbled across a website where you could order t-shirts and caps for high schools. Last week I had written about Lanier High in Montgomery, so I looked it up. You can buy a shirt in any color, so I might buy a dark green SIDNEY LANIER POETS shirt in honor of my old high school.

Go to many Hawks games at Alexander Coliseum? I always remember the bell they had mounted to the rails behind the bench at midcourt, that would be rung whenever Walt Bellamy scored a basket. Loved those blue and lime green uniforms. For Christmas I got a Hawks stocking cap from that era.
 
Tech has now won two ACC games in a row, right? They must’ve improved a little. The basketball team I am following this winter is our guys in Augusta, who are playing in a league using our company name. In their first game they fell behind early. AQn opponent hit three or four straight three pointers. But our guys battled back and lost a close game. The highlight was when a shot bounced off the rim. Brent soared high, grabbed the ball with both hands, and slammed it through the hoop.
 
Might’ve asked this before – where was the Atlanta Sports Arena located? One arena was located east of the current downtown, kinda near Oakland Cemetery. Where was the place Cassius Clay fought – near Georgia State?
 
I am trying to lose weight. Down five pounds so far, but need to work harder. Eating smaller portions, skipping fast food, and not eating when I’m not hungry. Need to exercise more. Gonna starting going to the gym with Ceil.   
 
Worked late Friday. C and M had been at college orientation all day so we went to Moxie Burger. M got a turkey burger and C and I split a chicken sandwich.
 
Ceil’s car needed tires and brakes so I got it to the shop before 7 am on Saturday morning. Went home and took a nap, then to small group at 8:30. Figured out how to turn off the dashboard lights on my Corolla. Home to do housework. Made myself a bean and rice quesadilla for lunch. C took my car to a funeral at Passion City Church, a student at the school Ceil teaches at.

At two I rode with M to Whole Foods for his shift. I walked across the street to get my car. They said it was almost ready but I had to wait another hour. Deleted emails and got more stuff done on my phone. Took the car to AutoZone for windshield wipers. The funeral ran long, then C went to a reception, Costco, and Whole Foods.

I did laundry, ironed shirts, and watched the Liam Neeson movie “Commuter.” Very good, with an excellent ending. Ceil finally arrived home and cooked beef tips, rice, and salad. I was keeping tabs on the football games. Actually went to bed early.

Sunday school, then in the service Bryant recapped the history of JFBC. The search committee was introduced. It includes a guy in my little group of friends. Leftovers for lunch, the we just relaxed most of the day. I washed the dishes, kept tabs on the games, played on my laptop, made some popcorn, and watch Princess Diaries and its sequel.  
 
I’ve owned jerseys for three of the four teams remaining in the NFL playoffs. Sold all three. The Patriots (Brady) and Chiefs (Len Dawson) were kids jerseys that Will wore. Had a cool white Saints throwback that they still wear for color rush. If I had a Rams jersey I forgot about it.
 
I’ve flown into that Memphis airport years ago, south of town.

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