Loving the 2nd gator hat to come from the depths of my sewing room! [I should mention, for the sake of “cheapness” since this blog is founded on it, that I use coupons to buy most fabric and notions to sew with, so that I obtain these items at 40 to 50% off the retail price. That makes most of the projects I do more affordable than if I tried, perish the thought, to do them without coupons.] I’ve found that –and maybe it’s just me–the pattern piece for the crown is a bit big, and after seam ripping a few times, had to be cut down so it would fit onto the side piece. Never mind. It had to be altered from the original use in the pattern (Kwik Sew 2236) to go with the cool alternative view in the June/July Sew News article “Thoroughly Modern Millinery.”
From listening to the after-game radio show, I believe a large part of the 90,000 people who attended the 9/11/10 game called in to complain about the TV people scheduling the game for NOON.
“Why couldn’t they schedule a NORTHERN football game at noon, it’s not as hot up there!” seemed to be the shared idea. As we left the game early, an ambulance was pulling in. Skip’s sister-in-law said that one of the paramedics was saying the heat index was 107 degrees and several women had passed out.
One guy called in to say that he wanted to thank the military for fighting on our behalf, so that he could do anything he wanted to do on that day, namely, watch football. The apocalypse might be raging in Gainesville, but people are not going to relinquish their football tickets.
The Hare Krishnas outside the game were exuberant, as we walked up toward the slope to Ben Hill Griffin stadium. As a bystander, I (kind of) wanted to join them, leaping and hollering in the joy of being alive, taking part in mortality that we’re all a part of: Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims. Even Bulls fans. I felt no animosity toward anyone that day. I felt insulated from hatred and fear. The crushing heat of the sun beating down made me feel I was a part of humanity dealing with the natural world, like all of us in it have to do. Normally I wouldn’t walk to the store at noon, or anything else, but if it’s in the name of paid entertainment, bring on the 100-degree weather and I’ll sweat it!
At least I’ve got my gator hat…and can forget about war for a minute or two…