March Madness...and why I'm mad for MSU basketball

March Madness. They call it that for a reason.

There's nothing quite like it. (And the games this year in particular have been nothing short of spectacular. My hands were shaking for minutes after MSU's win over Duke on Sunday night.)

I love watching it, no matter who is playing, as long as it's a good game. Auburn and UK on Sunday? Holy cow! And Purdue vs Virginia - even via FaceTime with my dad (since I don't have cable), it caused my heart to pound. But when Michigan State's in it? That's a whole different ball game.

I originally reflected on my love of Spartan basketball via this post in 2011 (2 days after my grandpa passed away). And for me, this truth never gets old, and I probably can't put it in any better words. I still love sharing it, especially as year after year my students ask, "Why MSU? Did you go there?" (I like to think I did...in fact, for awhile I tried to think up what degree or certification I could get from there.) I think it's important for the students to recognize the importance of connecting with their grandparents, no matter by what means that connection happens.

And nowadays, MSU basketball is a connection with my parents too. We get on a group text, commenting on the games, how grandpa would have hated any missed free throws, and wondering if they'd pull through. At 3:21 left in any given game, if MSU's ahead (which they were on Sunday at that point), my dad still says, "321 call Chuck" (our street address in Michigan and my grandpa's name) - more often than not, if the Spartans were ahead at that point in the game they would win. (I guess you could call it a superstition.) "Do it for Grandpa" is still our rallying cry.

As I sit here typing this post, I am staring at a small poster announcing MSU as the 2000 NCAA Division I Basketball Champs - a stunning win over the University of Florida, 89-76. It's one of the only things I ended up asking for when my grandpa died. (I also took a Spartan sweatshirt that belonged to my grandma.) I am hoping that this season - 19 years later - I can add another poster of my own for 2019. I hope these boys have it in them - I personally have faith they can go all the way.

College basketball? It's madness, yes. But for me, it's memories and keeping those memories alive in a special way. I'm not sure I would have wanted to be in the same room as my grandpa if he were alive to watch Sunday night's game against Duke - the stress would have been too much. (I'm sure my roommates were about to throw things at me for the screaming and jumping up and down I did that day as it was.) I will be a Spartan basketball fan for life, even over the schools I actually graduated from. (Call me crazy - that's fine by me.) There's something about the way that team always plays, how Izzo coaches them, and how I know my grandpa is still watching with me.

Go Green! Go White! Do it for Grandpa!!


P.S. - If you're feeling sentimental (or want a good laugh), check out these two posts from the archives: "Words, Don't Fail Me Now" and "Grandpa-isms: Sayings, Songs, Jokes, and More..."

MSU...4 Ever

Student: Miss Foyle, you didn't even go to Michigan State.
Me: I know.
Student: Why do you love MSU basketball so much?
Me: Well...

It's actually a pretty simple answer that dates back to 6th grade. This blog post from awhile back pretty much sums it up, so no need to reiterate it.

Final Four 2015, here come the Spartans! (Way to be the bracket busters, MSU...)

MSU BBall Weekend 2014

More to come later...but guess who went to East Lansing this weekend for their first Michigan State men's basketball game?...

These girls! (We were thinking of you, Grandpa!)

What a great weekend, brought to completion by an MSU victory (though it was done via OT) and an opportunity to grab dinner and drinks with some of our ACE friends who are currently residing near MSU for various schooling reasons. (Lovely!)

It really was a dream come true - one that was first dreamed as middle school students a long time ago.

1 Year Today

One year ago today, my family lost a really great guy, my grandfather. I know a lot of my posts, especially right after he passed away, have been reflections on his life and my relationship with him. But I don't think words will ever be enough.

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” ― Mae West

I think my grandpa surely did "do it right."

photo collage made through Picasa

(The photos are small, but I think if you click on it, they will get bigger on your screen. Also, if you click at the bottom on the label "grandpa," the screen will bring you to all of my previous entries (including poems, reflections, etc.) about him.)

Reminder

As I was getting a blank thank you card from my stash (to send to my ACE housemate's parents for putting us up for the night on Saturday after the MSU/ND game), I happened to choose the one into which the 2 prayer cards for my grandpa's memorial service had slipped.

I think it's fitting that I should be reminded of him on this weekend, as he spent many a football game in Spartan stadium, and, under any other conditions, I would have been cheering for the Spartans on Saturday in his memory.

And so I share with you tonight "The Parting Glass" - it's a traditional Irish folk song with words that really do hit home.

I'm thinking of you tonight, Grandpa - good times and all...

The Parting Glass - Irish Traditional

Oh all the time that e'er I spent,
I spent it in good company;
And any harm that e'er I've done,
I trust it was to none but me;
May those I've loved through all the years
Have memories now they'll e'er recall;
So fill me to the parting glass,
Goodnight, and joy be with you all.

Oh all the comrades that e'er I had,
Are sorry for my going away;
And all the loved ones that e'er I had
Would wish me one more day to stay.
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should leave and you should not,
I'll gently rise and I'll softly call
Goodnight, and joy be with you all.

Of all good times that e'er we shared,
I leave to you fond memory;
And for all the friendship that e'er we had
I ask you to remember me;
And when you sit and stories tell,
I'll be with you and help recall;
So fill to me the parting glass,
God bless, and joy be with you all.

Grandpa-isms...Sayings, Songs, Jokes, and More...

Undoubtedly these cannot all be attributed to my grandfather - I'm sure someone else made some of them up - but these are some of the words he said that I will always remember...and they are ones I wanted to share:

his favorite 'limerick' (I never had the heart to tell him it wasn't technically a limerick.): 
"There once was a girl from Boston, Mass. She stood in water up to her knees. It doesn't rhyme yet, but wait till the tide comes in."

words of wisdom: 
"Save your money, buy whiskey."

This one's a recent favorite - I never heard him utter it in person, but it was shared at his memorial - apparently it was directed at his friends: 
"If B.S. (bull s***) was an energy company, you two would be a couple of power plants."

upon leaving the table, 
"Meeting adjourned."

when taking a picture with my sister and me, 
"Ah, a rose between two thorns."

while holding the door, 
Age before beauty."

before heading out of town,
"Comes the dawn, we'll be gone." (Although, this is probably more accurately attributed to my grandmother.)

in order to ensure his order would be plain, the way he liked it:
"No garbage, and I'm allergic to pickle."

ideas about eating:
"If you eat one more piece of chicken, you're going to turn into a chicken."

when he wanted the rest of the house to wake up:
"Reveille! Reveille!" (while waving the coffee pot)


He rewrote the words to many songs that he constantly sang to himself around the house, and he usually could pull out a one-liner for any occasion - I wish I could remember all of them.

But this is a start of what I'd like to call my "grandpa-isms" - for it is impossible to think of these sayings without thinking also of him.

What matters most...

"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." 

~Thomas Campbell

Well, at this rate, my grandpa will continue to live for awhile. So many great stories...memories...pictures...

Speaking of pictures, actually, my family and I nearly died laughing a few times at the ridiculousness captured on film. (Some negatives must be burned...) Oh the things that get buried away in boxes...

With his memorial and burial this weekend, it won't be easy to make it through without shedding a few tears - not that I will even try to stop them, by any means. But there's bound to be plenty of laughter too because, apparently, my grandpa did (and said) some pretty crazy things...in his own quiet way.

I realize how blessed I was to know him for over 25 years of my life (although, I guess my early childhood years don't really count - too early), but time never seems long enough when it comes to being with people you love. It makes me think of a song (most recently performed (to my knowledge) by Barbra Streisand - one of my grandpa's favorite artists) about love and how love supersedes time. 

It's meant to be a love song, I know, but it fits for all relationships, I believe. (See for yourself - here are a few lines of the lyrics below.)

It's not how long I held you in my arms 
What matters is how sweet the years together
It's not how many summertimes we had to give to fall 
The early morning smiles we tearfully recall 
What matters most is that we loved at all...

*In loving memory: July 11, 1924 - December 2, 2011*

Here's that rainy day...

Funny, but here's that rainy day...

I didn't think I would care that much, but when Michigan State lost tonight, I was honestly at a loss too. All I wanted to do was call up my grandpa and lament over their poor defense and lack of quality shots.

But that isn't really possible...unless you count a conversation in my head.

And, just as if my life were a movie, it did rain today - bringing a feeling of both sadness and a fresh new start. I don't know - the song (above) just fits today (well, not all of it - school was quite good, no lies).

But some days (such as the 'rainy ones'), you just wish you had certain things, moments, or people back. Let's face it, some days are harder than others without them...

Kindred Souls

When I first read on a favorite blog that the book Kindred Souls by Patricia MacLachlan was coming out, I knew I had to read it. So, I ordered it right away.

It came in the mail a few weeks later, but it sat on my shelf for a few weeks after that too...Until today. With the extra day off from school (Amen!), I decided I had time to sit down and read it. And I am so glad I did.

It's a book about a boy and his grandfather who, at 88 years old, is still as sharp and lively as ever. It takes place during the summertime, when school is out, and Jake (the main character) spends much of his time with his grandfather (who everyone calls Billy) around their farm. As the story unfolds, a small dog named Lucy (whom Billy nicknames his "Angel Dog") becomes Billy's pet, and Jake (with the help of the rest of his family) builds his grandfather the sod house (from his childhood memories) that he has been missing for so long.

There really isn't that much of a plot - it's mainly a story about relationships, especially those rooted deep within the human soul. It is simple and beautiful. And, I would be lying if I didn't admit that it made me both laugh and shed some tears. 

Truthfully, this book really got me thinking about my grandpa again. And I think that's exactly what the author was trying to do. Patricia MacLachlan is quite the talented writer. She knows how to speak straight to the reader's heart...

And my heart was ready to listen.

Words, Don't Fail Me Now

My Grandpa

(A Memory Rhyming Poem)

December 3, 2011

A man of few words,

but wise, nonetheless.

Stubborn to a fault

as his patience we'd test

He served in the Air Corps,

was a civil engineer

And a good man to his family

year after year

He bled green and white -

A Spartan fan true.

Best beware of "the look"

if you mentioned "Go Blue."

Ev'ry morning he'd have

his coffee without fail

As he read the newspaper

and sorted through mail.

He liked everything plain -

a no fuss kind of guy.

On his burgers, no "garbage"

on the side, he'd have fries.

His dislike for pickles

was one of a kind

"I'm allergic to them" -

he had made up his mind.

Manhattans and Mai Tais,

a cold beer or two

Celebrating with friends -

that he knew how to do.

Public Broadcasting programs

and NCIS

USA, Big 10 network -

on TV, those were best.

He taught us to play card games -

Pinochle was fun.

And we always enjoyed it,

no matter who won.

He gave generously

of his money and time

For he believed that to give

any less was a crime.

A brother, an uncle

a grandpa and dad

A friend, a coworker,

an MSU grad

Words simply can't tell

how I miss him - I've tried

It just hasn't been 

the same since he died.

But his memory I'll carry

with me where I go.

Blessed to be his granddaughter -

that I sure hope he knows.

Grandpa, Sparty, and Me

As a twelve year old kid, I confess I didn't know much in the ways of the world. (And perhaps I still don't, but that's another story.) The point is that it was that year when I really started watching college basketball.

And, let's face it, it wasn't just any college basketball - it was Michigan State. (I'm pretty sure I dubbed myself an honorary member of the Izzone.) A fanatic (me) was born.

Why Michigan State? You know, people still ask me that to this day, and I love telling the story.

Actually, it's not much of a story, per se. It's really just for one simple fact - I wanted something in common with my grandpa. (I guess I realized even then what an incredible man he was.) Whether watching in the same room or on different TVs across the country, I knew that we would always be able to either celebrate or lament the team's results and stats at the end of each game. Without fail, it would be something we shared.

And we did just that for 14 years.

Eh, who am I kidding? He's still watching (wherever he is), I'm sure of it.

And I'll definitely keep watching too - heck, the team picture and schedule is the desktop background on my computer.

As I'm sure my grandpa would say, Sparty on...

Meeting Adjourned

How quickly things change. And how fast life keeps moving forward even when you want it to just stand still (or even go backwards)...

Grandpa, I miss you so much. Because of you my blood will always run green and white. (Go State!) I will forever hum "Waltzing Matilda" and hear "The Bedbugs and the Cooties" rhyme in my head. And, as you constantly reminded me, I will "save my money and buy whiskey." Whenever I see a pickle on my plate, I will remember how you always claimed you were allergic to them just so you wouldn't have to deal with that nonsense. (Pure genius.) And when it's time to leave the table, I'll always note (at least to myself) that the meeting's adjourned. I love you, and I am so proud and blessed to be your granddaughter.

(In loving memory, July 11, 1924 - December 2, 2011)

Inspiration Revisited

The inspiration just wasn't flowing today, and sometimes that happens.

But being in Michigan on vacation is always something that stirs old memories, so today I share with you a poem that came from inspiration in this very same place this past Easter...

Michigan Grass
KMF, 04-23-11

We called it "Michigan grass."
It was soft and cool between our toes
and even though we were only in Ohio,
we knew we'd be to Michigan soon.

We called it "Michigan grass" -
it smelled like summer
and it tasted like grandma's peanut butter-chocolaty treats
fresh off the stove.
(We could smell them all the way from the basement!)
It was the taste of sweet raspberries too,
right after being picked from the backyard bush.
(Sometimes we had to wait all summer just to get our first bite!)
It was the splash of cold water
after jumping off the makeshift wooden-red ledge
into the familiar pool.

It was trips to the park
and pretending we were in the Old West.
Family barbecues and July birthdays
were always cause for celebration.
Even a trip to Dairy Queen was an adventure.
(And sometimes it would be so hot 
the ice cream would slowly trickle down our skin,
daring us to finish faster.)

We called it "Michigan grass,"
and it was perfect for sitting and star-gazing
or for catching a glimpse of the fireworks
over the tops of the trees lining Grandpa's street.
It was card games like Euchre, Crazy Eights,
and (especially) Pinochle.
Trips to the zoo were quite the tradition,
and we always enjoyed the sugary slushies
in their special plastic mugs...and the penguin exhibit.

We watched so many movies those summers -
we must have kept Blockbuster in business.
We learned to love the smell of coffee
long before we acquired a taste for it.
When in doubt, we could always make a gift
of coffee mugs to Grandma and Grandpa -
they could never have enough.

We called it "Michigan grass"
all those summers when the pullout couch
became our makeshift bed
and the basement became a favorite reading place.
We would often lose ourselves for hours
playing ping pong and pool (without the cues, of course).

It was "hop in the car"
and we were off and running,
as dad tried to squeeze in too many visits
into the few days we had left.
(But I don't think we really minded much -
Dad was just really good at keeping up with friends.)
The sand dunes were somewhat daunting,
but we always managed to make it to the top.
We visited where Grandma grew up,
and, in time, we often planted flowers on her grave.
Northern Michigan has always been
a place of peace and family.

We called it "Michigan grass,"
but it was much more than that -
it was that knowing feeling of being home.

And it does feel so good to be home...