Sunday, November 8, 2009

Frost


I participated in an American fall ritual on Friday night -- a high school football game. I wanted to see Dave's band in action, so I zipped out to New Jersey on the train, caught a cab to the school, got a couple of cheese pizza slices at the concession stand and settled into a spot on the aluminum bleachers overlooking the field. The night was chilly, and in fact grew steadily colder. I was wearing a shirt, sweater and jacket and a stocking cap -- and pants of course -- but pretty soon I was chilled to the bone. I thought, I'm going to be like William Henry Harrison. I'll be dead by Monday.

I joined the game in the middle of the first quarter. The referees kept stopping the clock during the second quarter, which was making me crazy because I was so uncomfortable, but finally we got to the half-time action. The band did a good job with field movements, though as I told Dave, I couldn't hear them very well. I don't think they're loud enough.

I didn't stick around for the rest of the game. Instead, I came back to Dave's and got warm. I have never been so happy to come inside.





The next morning, when I took the dogs out for their walk, the field next door was covered with frost. Surprisingly the dogs didn't seem to mind it, though I'm sure it must have numbed their little footpads.

7 comments:

Barbara said...

I suppose they don't serve beer at high school FB games. Maybe hot cider would have heated you up. I'm so glad you got to see the product of Dave's efforts. Did his school's team win or did you ever ask? :)

I've always been curious as to why the first frosts seem to invigorate dogs (whose feet have to be cold). Maybe it's our Florida roots that make us so sensitive to bone-chilling cold.

Steve Reed said...

No beer! And the team lost, though I only found that out afterwards, and sort of incidentally.

Betty said...

Loving that new camera! Great shots. (Hot cider sounds good - mulled wine would have been nice, too?)

Chick said...

Great photos of the frosty grass...brrrr.

Merle Sneed said...

When our son was in marching band, Mrs. Sneed would only show up right before halftime and then leave immediately afterward.

debra said...

We've had 2 hard frosts here, too, a harbinger of what is to come. Warm weather is expected for the next few days, though. Lovely photos :-)

Reya Mellicker said...

My experience of football games was always boredom mixed with freezing to death. Glad I'm not the only one.

The frost pics are exquisite, Steve! Did you take those with your new camera?