Ups and downs

A View Of Columbus Through Rose-Colored Glasses

This article is dedicated to acknowledging examples of positives that express the community spirit of Columbus – our town.

Playing basketball was one of the joys of growing up and attending a country school. Basketball was a major sport for both boys and girls. I played from 5th grade through 12th. During those years, I had a recurring dream. It was a marvelous dream. Remembering it so vividly is still a treat for me.

Here’s my dream: I played basketball riding through the air on a tractor seat. It was a great advantage since I have always been short. Now, do understand that no one else rode through the air; thus, I had a great advantage.

When I was a senior and participating in selling ads for the yearbook, I was involved in an embarrassing incident with an elevator. It was really very simple. I was the last to get out of the elevator and a little too slow. The elevator door caught my leg, and you might guess the results. The startling action caused me to wet my pants right there in front of everybody close by. You can bet I never get out last anymore.

The title “Ups and downs” quite often refers to my mental state. Last Friday in Hitchcock, Texas, the Columbus contingent witnessed one of the most explosive football games of the year. It was delightful to see the Cardinals erase a 16-point deficit in three minutes and send the game into overtime.

In overtime, Hitchcock scored a touchdown and kicked the extra point. Then Columbus scored a touchdown and had the guts to go for a twopoint conversion to try to win. So here we go with “Ups and down.” The Cardinals lost their first game of the year when the conversion failed. The gallant effort of the Cardinal team remains as an “up” in our memory.

The next “Ups and downs” relates to our national election. It is difficult to stay up with the torrential negative ads. So please remember that there is a way to address this “UP & DOWN.”

Join the Community Singalong on Sunday, Nov 10, at the First United Methodist Church Family Life Center on Washington St at 3 p.m. The entire community will sing patriotic songs and familiar hymns. Music is therapeutic. Bring a friend and look forward to an “up.”