Rock Chalk House Walk!
Yes, our magnificent Kansas Jayhawks won the NCAA National Basketball Championship last night. And
yes, over 40,000 people - with us, 40,003 - poured down to Mass Street last night to party "like it was
1988" - that's when Greg and I were college students and the last time KU won a national championship.
Surely it's no coincidence that we moved back here and they win again. Our pleasure to help
out, Coach Self - any time!
In other news (there's other news?) Lawrence landed on Prevention magazine's list of the 100 most
walkable cities in America. Woo-hoo, number 38! If you live near the historic center of this college town, it's
true - you can walk to school, banks, drugstores, restaurants, movies...and a lot of very good coffee.
I was going to write a whole serious-sounding piece on why it's really important to have walkable cities,
but last night's basketball bonanza reminded me why living near a lively downtown full of sidewalks isn't
just important...
...it's fun!
Oh yes indeed it's fun to run right out the front door, walk two blocks and take your kid to
a drunken all-night street party. It builds character.
Are we parents of the year, or what?
Rock Chalk Jayhawk -- 'cause who knows when it will come again.
The 1988-2008 circle is complete. I can now resume my schedule of not really caring about
sports - until next season.
Editor's Note: Readers have been asking why my husband and daughter look green, and well, a
lot of people looked green that night, and also hurled at policemen's feet - but that's not it.
Their green faces are attributable to our beautiful old downtown street lamps, which cast a greenish
white light over everything. It made the party even more surreal, like an alien championship win!
I need one of these pictures for my desk. It looks like a good time was had by all.
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ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK! So sorry we missed you down at "the party to end all parties." We were there until the wee hours of the morning ourselves, when our daughter heard someone talking about "designated drivers" and promptly offered to be ours! (as she said "because I'm too young to drink!") Uh, well, Marilyn, as you know....she is also TOO YOUNG TO DRIVE!
ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!!!!!!!!
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I was there in spirit!
Here's my non-houseblog take on the evening:
http://stblogwen.blogspot.com/2008/04/hail-to-thee-our-alma-mater.html
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Woo hoo! Looks like a fabulous time.
We read the article in the paper and noted that the last time they'd won was when you and Greg were at KU. You must be their good-luck charm!
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That's awesome and Josie will always remember this. It reminds me of the 1980 winter Olympics in UPSTATE NEW YORK (sound familiar) when the hockey team won. I still get chocked up! There was a massive blizzard and we ended up with a few dozen stranded strangers jumping up and down and screaming with joy & crying crowded around our 19inch tv. It was like something out of a Seinfeld episode. Doorbell would ring, Dad would open the door - person would mention stranded car/snowstorm, my Dad would hand them coffee & baked good and point them towards the living room where the tv was. It was sooooo cool!!
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