Goodbye Rosa

Rosa Parks passed away tonite.

More info: http://www.africanamericans.com/RosaParksResources.htm

11:11:04 PM   permalink: []   feedback:   comments: []  

Breaking the Ice

In the room full of adults, there wasn't much for the kids to do. They could stand with their parents, and you know what that is like. Or they could go off on their own to a different place, but there wasn't a critical mass of them.

In a situation like that, breaking the ice can be real difficult -- at least that's what I remember.

So there we were in a room full of alumni and academics and spouses and two teenagers. They stood smiling politely at first, Ben sipping Dr. Pepper from a bottle, Carrie holding her paperback under her arm. You could see the look of dread in their eyes -- they knew the evening would be long.

After we ate, Ben came over and stood behind me. Dad, he said in a quiet voice. May I have a couple dollars?

Sure, for what?

For a game of pool, he said.

I only had one dollar, but he said that it would be fine. He took it and walked over to where Carrie was sitting.

It was noisy, with all the talking and with the country music coming from the dance hall on the other side of the wall. So I couldn't hear what he said, but I could see it.

He walked around the table and bent down just a bit when he got to her chair, and I saw him say pool. She looked up at him and smiled, and I saw her say sure!

Yep, that's just how I remember it. Breaking the ice can be real difficult.

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Trinity University Geosciences alumni and faculty gathering
Leon Springs Dance Hall
San Antonio, TX

10:46:55 PM   permalink: []   feedback:   comments: []