Ron’s shower thoughts: Sports, nostalgia, and jack wagons
Oct 18, 2017, 11:51 AM | Updated: 3:47 pm
(Courtesy of Ron Upshaw)
Welcome to my second crack at “Ron’s Shower Thoughts.” A few minutes inside my brain.
RELATED: Random thoughts Ron had in the shower
Let’s start with the “The Big Dark.” I know it’s boring to talk about the weather, but Rachel Belle reminded us yesterday to do an attitude check about winter. So get your mind right about the next few months. I bought a proper rain jacket, and I’m going to get back into skiing this season. Having some winter things on your calendar to look forward to can help change your outlook.
Nostalgia
Speaking of things to look forward to. I bought a new toy this week. An exact replica of a ’70s era Polaroid camera and three packs of film. Each picture costs $1.85, and there’s only eight pics per pack. I’m now forced to actually think about what photo I want to take. Just having it on my counter invokes a warm nostalgic feeling. Oh, and despite what Andre 3000 says, the instructions tell you not to shake it.
Sports, history, and jack wagons
While we’re talking about the ’70s, let’s go back one more decade. This week is the 49th anniversary of Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising a gloved fist in the air to protest racial discrimination on the medal stand at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. The response from the US Olympic Team? They were told to take their medals and get out. That’s right, they were kicked off the team for raising a fist in the air.
Maybe we haven’t progressed as much as we’d like to think.
Let’s stick with sports for a hot second. Playoff baseball is great. Watching the Cubs, Dodgers, Yankees, and Astros battle late into October is awesome. It also makes me want to say, “Come on Mariners, get your act together. Is it too much to ask you to at least make the playoffs.”
And to the jack wagon that broke off the bat on the Ken Griffey Jr. statue in front the ballpark: you’re an idiot. What are you going to do, mount it on the wall in your man cave next to your neon beer sign and bikini calendar? Kudos to the man who chased him down and recovered the bat. Apparently he might have “some issues…” You think?
#MeToo
So I’m conflicted on how to respond to the women in my life that are posting #MeToo. I have seen co-workers, friends, and women who I have dated all post #MeToo. So far, I’ve clicked the angry emoji icon on their post but would like to do more.
When a woman posts this, is it an invitation to talk about it? Does she want to talk or just let the world know it happened to her? I want to be supportive, but I don’t want to do the wrong thing.
Streetcars
And finally, there’s a story out today on MyNorthwest.com about the Seattle City Council second-guessing itself on whether they should tear up First Avenue to put in a streetcar. They are evidently wondering if it’s a good idea. Let me be clear about this: it’s not.