When Jessica returned from her morning walk, she reported seeing no animals, as the traffic along the streets leading into the soccer field from the north was bumper to bumper, backed up all the way to Pima Road. People were trying to get into the impromptu parking areas on the soccer fields to catch the shuttle over to the golf course, where the third and penultimate day of the tournament was to take place. Moreover hot air balloons could be seen rising in the over the direction of the course.
Not having a background in golf, it didn't make sense to me that the third day of the tournament (Saturday) was the "big" day. Tomorrow the champion will crowned. I remember the name of the gentleman who won last year because he is a local, and so it was a "big deal."
Many people here, and especially in the this section of Scottsdale, are obsessed with golf. The very high end properties up on the flanks of the McDowell Mountains are all clustered around private courses. IF some cases people rent apartments here in the complex in which we live (the "ghetto" of DC Ranch, I call it), as pied-a-terres to fly in and play golf in season.
Today is the big "party day", where people arrive in groups and wander the course following players like a big open air cocktail party. Tomorrow it will serious as the players vie for the prize money. A trophy will be given, checks awarded with a speech by the sponsor of the tournament. Names of the champions will be etched onto the plaques in the clubhouse, like they were in my high school in the trophy case. It is amazing how unimpressive such displays are when you see them (you can see them, as we did, the clubhouse restaurant, where we once dined during the height of summer, when the course, and half of Scottsdale, is empty.
Ideally for the broadcasters and the sponsor, the tournament concludes and crowns the winner right before the start of the other big sporting event that happens this weekend, which is the Super Bowl, about which so few people seem to care about this year.
Me, I am focussing on the physical today as well, initiating a program of some strength building exercises to add to my walks and the calisthenics I do. I let myself get out of shape last year and still feel weakened, which puts the fear of God in me, as I am now sixty years old and wish to remain spry, active and healthy in my remaining years, if nothing else to not be a burden to others. But I have no plans to take up golf. I'd rather just walk aimlessly and think about God. For now I'm contenting myself with moving heavy boxes down to the garage. It keeps the blues at bay. Yesterday felt like a breakthrough, and I experienced a bit of euphoria over, so I knew the Enemy would counteract today, and tell me it is a waste of time, and I am too old to do anything new, and that we'll never get out of this desert, blah, blah, blah. Not today, devil. One true sentence.
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