Sunday, October 17, 2010

For Every Thing there Is a Season

Friday night we attended the last Sounders home match of the season. My ticket book is now empty. There will be some playoff games, but the only guaranteed home match is October 31, when we will be in Colorado for Halloween. There is also another international match this Tuesday that we will attend, but it doesn't count for anything and the regular fanfare will be missing. Our last game of the season, next weekend, will be on television for us here in Seattle. Because this was a season ending match, it was fan appreciation day. We arrived early for the 8:00 start. The half moon was hanging over the stadium in a clear sky. By the time the festivities began in Occidental Park, the deep blue of the darkening sky was reflected in the horns of the Sound Wave band. Drew Carey, a part owner, spoke to the crowd. In the stadium parking lot, after the March to the Match, Grammatrain performed for the fans.
One of our favorite defensive players, Ozzie Alonzo, scored his first goal of the season.
36,356 fans loved every minute of the full 90, and once again the victory was ours over Chivas Los Angeles, 2-1.
Seasons come, and seasons go, but from the first match in the cold rain of March, through the summer when we had the whole family with us, to this lovely autumn evening, it has been great fun. We'll renew our season tickets for next year. I plan to go as long as I can.
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Then on Saturday we had more seasonal fun, the annual family cider fest at my brother's house in Chehalis.
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I didn't do a very good job of taking photos, as I was too busy visiting and watching, and I also this year didn't do much of the work.
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We had able bodied young men to run the cider press.
And there was plenty of help preparing the apples.
My mother sat in the sun in the middle of the action, and various family members made a point to sit and visit with her. Mom's sister Evelyn lives in Seattle now, and this year we brought her with us, along with my cousin Dan. They had a great time catching up with people they hadn't seen for a long time.
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And then it was time for the eating. Once again it was a beautiful fall day, perfect for a picnic on the deck.
Nephew Jason and his new bride Amie were married last weekend in North Carolina, where he is in special forces training at Fort Bragg. They are honeymooning at the cabin in Rockaway, and came over for the weekend. It was our chance to meet Amie, and shower them with gifts, since only the immediate family had attended the wedding.
And so it is for them, in this autumn, a season for new beginnings.
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Well, once again the day has dawned clear and bright, another gift. I'll watch the Seahawks on television in an away game this morning, and then go outside and putter in the garden this afternoon. It's time for the fall cleanup, but with the crazy seasons we've had this year, it's still so green and lush and bloomy that most of the cutting back will wait for a while. However, the thermometer says 37, so definitely it won't be long before it's all gone.
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For everything there is a season.

13 comments:

  1. That looks like so much fun. It must have been a great day.

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  2. What do you mean, you didn't take pictures? These are super wonderful! And I am so happy that this season was memorable in so many ways for you. Thanks for bringing me along!

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  3. Most of us do not have the amount of family contact you have so it is much appreciated when you share your family time and traditions with us. We have a pretty day in Oregon as well.

    I can hardly wait for the pictures of this years halloween trip to Colorado.

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  4. Linda, you DID a lot and SAW a lot. Way to go, girl!

    That Amie is so very pretty and photogenic.

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  5. You really captured the excitement and fun of the Sounders game, Linda. I'm not even a sports fan and I felt like I wanted to go, too.

    I can't imagine doing a cider press in Hawaii. It would be so expensive. Apples are going for $1.79 a pound in some places. It would make the cider as expensive as wine.

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  6. Jason and Amie are a handsome couple, aren't they? What lovely family get-togethers your family has. The cider event sounded perfect for fall.

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  7. sounds like a freeze could be coming. fun family activities...for all.

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  8. Sounds like a good end to the season, along with the cider production. Hope you drank some matured product? - Dave

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  9. Looks like a lot of fun and great photos. Thanks for stopping by. There's probably a lot of truth in your comment but my Dad always measured up and no one did until I met my husband, and then I met his Dad and the cycle seemed complete. I guess I have very high standards - too picky my friends said but half of them are divorced now. I was all set for spinsterhood before then and quite happy at the thought - lol!

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  10. It is clear that you enjoy your local sports teams and your family traditions. My extended family has drifted apart since my parents died.
    We will be with our grandson on Holloween but no trick or treat and no costumes. It doesn't mean anything to him. We will all go and have an outing in San Diego, instead. I think the attractions there will be much more interesting to him.

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  11. I can't believe there is a winning sports team in Seattle and my husband persists in agonizing over the losers. At least he had a good weekend with Huskies and Seahawks wins.

    Great pictures and stories as usual!

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  12. Nice post, Linda.
    And YAY the Seahawks won an away game---They said it couldn't be done. They are on the right track now.
    family get-togethers are always great.
    I spent several days at my eldest daughter's in ritzville---very enjoyable. MB

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  13. It doesn't get much more perfect than this, Linda. Beautiful surrounding, spirited games, fresh apple cider, and family and friends. You are really blessed.

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