Day 147
One of our hunting friends bestowed upon us a basketball hoop for our driveway. While my children were still a bit vertically-challenged to say the least, having a hoop reminded me of my youth. I played backyard games against myself on a regular basis. Most of the time, I even won. I would live out my wildest basketball dreams because in real life, while I did play competitively until high school, I never quite played at what most people would consider a high level. My imaginary games usually ended up with me enjoying a game-winning basket at the buzzer. Often, I was on the Milwaukee Bucks playing alongside some of my favorite childhood players, including Vin Baker, Todd Day, and Marty Conlon.
When he delivered the basketball hoop, I had visions of re-living these childhood dreams with my own children.
These dreams never came to be.
Besides not finding the time with all the tasks and responsibilities of everyday life, old Mother Nature wreaked her windy havoc on the farm once again.
I should have learned from the first incident.
One windy afternoon, the brisk breeze knocked down the basketball hoop into the driveway, slightly bending the rim. Most people would say it needed to be trashed, but I am not most people. I kept the hoop and wasn't too worried about it being a bit off center. I did however grow up learning how to play billiards on an uneven pool table, so maybe I was biased. The bent hoop made basketball more interesting, but I didn't mind it.
Then, it happened again.
This time, however, the wind almost claimed another casualty. While the fallen hoops’ second fall only enhanced its unevenness, it wasn't nearly as nerve-wracking compared to what could have been. The fallen hoop narrowly missed landing right on our car.
It was time to take the battered and beaten basketball hoop down permanently. If it would have landed on the car, I don't think my wife would have ever let me forget about it, especially since she objected to the hoop staying after the first fall.
The hoop was dismantled for parts. Luckily, I knew exactly where those parts could go.
