Green Pastures

Memories of your childhood come and go. There were images or pictures in your head, there are faces of people important to you who have been gone a long time, and some things remain. Among those things that I remember from my childhood is the 23rd Psalm. It was one of the first Bible verses I can remember: "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth  beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul."

A week ago in church my pastor, Charlie Martin, at the Erlanger Christian church (Disciples of Christ) spoke about 23rd Psalm and posed the question: Where are your green pastures? I had an immediate answer and this weekend I tested my hypothesis. What do I do,  where do I go to lie down in green pastures and have my soul restored? I am sure that over the years this answer is changed and there may be several different answers to the question. But for now, packing a bag, hopping in my Van, turning off the telephone (or at least turning down the ring tone ) and heading east on the AA and I-64 for a visit with Hillary, Jamie, Caroline and Camden and for home football game at the University of Virginia is my green pasture.

Folks tell me that an 8-hour drive is tiring. I get physically tired from the trip but mentally refreshed . I know the road. I know where to stop . I know where the good food is . I know where they will pump my gas for me . I know the sights and, in particular, where to look for various things . crossing the Kanawha River four times as I pass through Charleston . the new River Bridge. where to sneak a peek at the Greenbrier. the little grass airstrip adjacent to the road near Clifton Forge, Virginia.the view from Afton Mountain. driving through Charlottesville as my Van attempts to get off the Expressway and head toward rugby road . the last hour toward Richmond and arriving at the Billingsley house in Hanover County . Caroline coming out the front door with a big smile and hollering "hi Poppy ". Camden climbing on the my scooter as soon as I get in the house. Stopping by the Kenton County library before I leave and picking up a couple books on CD to listen to during the drive . ( On this trip I listened to Grisham's The Abduction and got halfway through Baldacci's Deliver Us From Evil .)

I don't get to see my grandkids enough, so it's always a treat to be with them . Camden is growing like a weed and talks a lot – soon we will be able to understand what he is saying . Caroline is a wonder child – so bright , so good, so loving and a real big Virginia fan . Jamie makes a great pot of pulled pork barbecue and we hang out on Friday night after the kids hit the sack by watching some kind of game on television . Hillary usually reads. I am usually awakened on Saturday morning by the sound of cartoons or whatever it is the they call children's programming on Saturday mornings these days . after a little breakfast and a scan of the newspaper on their iPad , we get ready for the trip Charlottesville .

 The game Saturday was at 6 PM against William and Mary , one of the top teams in the Colonial Athletic Conference and the FCS. We arrived on the grounds at about 230 – 245 and the parking lot alumni Hall was already full . We went to the University's parking garage about a block away instead . We walked to Alumni Hall to see what was going on and I met my Pi Kapp brother Mark Bearden . Mark grew up in Cincinnati but now lives in Richmond .  I saw several other people that I knew from a distance but since the kids were there, we headed toward the stadium . This is a beautiful walk along Emmet Street , past the Dell , the Curry School of Education and my old haunt , the School of Engineering and Applied Science . new buildings – new sidewalks – quite impressive . Emerging from the engineering complex , our path opened into the parking lots at Scott Stadium . lots of tailgating was going on . It's different than other forms of tailgating that I observe, engage in and/or enjoy but it's good . UVA tailgating has changed over the past decade or so .Scott Stadium , in the 70s, was the largest open air bar south of the Mason Dixon line but there has been a significant emphasis on cutting down on the alcohol .  It is very family-friendly – lots of balls flying around , lots of kids running and playing , and small groups of marching band members circulating around the lots playing music and pumping up the crowd.

There is an entrance to the stadium for those who need elevators to get upstairs and we typically enter there. Itis also the entrance to the Virginia Football Alumni Room where our receptions are held  after ever game.  I like to get into the stadium early to watch the teams warm-up and, in particular, to watch the Virginia offensive line go through its paces directly below my seats . This usually turns into a reunion . First, all of the ushers and attendents that I've known over the years stop by to say hello ; Hillary and Jamie's friends and classmates often stop by ; a couple of the fellows that I played football with (George Korte, Andy Selfridge, among others) stop by and , of course, my fraternity brothers come by an chat. I guess 'chat' is a good word for it . Actually, we usually pick up conversations that we left off the last time we saw each other which could be anywhere from two months to 20 years ago . this weekend I saw and spoke with some of my favorite people on the face of this earth– Mark , Shep , Sonny, Phil, Opie, Bozo , Brillo ( or should I say the Rev. Mr. Watson) , dandy Don ,and, of course, my dear Katie. Catching up on everyone's lives , where their kids are ,where they've been, weddings and family events that have been experienced, plans for the future, and how our beloved Wahoo's are going to be this year. The  Cavalier marching, a relatively new phenomenon, keep keeps getting bigger and better every year. I love it when the band marches right toward me , forms the Power-V  and plays   " U V A – go Hoos  Go ."  the adventures of CavMan appears on the big screen followed by the entrance of the team and the Cavalier on horseback. I know it sounds goofy but I love this stuff and it is my green pasture .

After the game we go down to the alumni room for a bottle of water , a soft drink or beer ,some food , a few minutes to cool down or warm up (depending on the time of the year) catch up with some old friends and make some new ones. After the crowd thins, we head home.

The drive home on Sunday is usually quicker and easier - for some unknown reason. Maybe its because I am refreshed.  He maketh me lie down in green pastures . . .