Spring Rituals

We officially marked the beginning of spring this week, ironic here in Michigan since we're under a winter weather advisory tonight. Areas to the north may receive several inches of snow. Locally, we may get freezing rain and ice but then again we may not the TV weatherman predicted in typical ambiguous weather forecasting fashion.

On Sunday, we journeyed up to Bay City for the St. Patrick's Day parade. It marked my grandson Grant's first trip to see my hometown. Here's Grant with one of his second cousins, both decked out appropriately in their Irish duds.



My nephew throws a big party for his friends, many of whom are fans of Michigan State University, and the party usually gives them a chance to cheer on the MSU Spartans' if their basketball team is still in the NCAA tournament. Not this year. The Spartans were one and done, losing in the first round. But we got to watch instead my U of M Wolverines play in the second round, against Duke. Go blue! Alas, they lost a close one.

I'm in my nephew's NCAA bracket challenge pool along with 14 others who paid $10 each, winner take all. I picked Ohio State to win it all. Figure that's a win-win situation for me. If the OSU Buckeyes lose, I'll be happy since I don't really care for Michigan's arch-nemesis. If Ohio State wins it all I'll be really upset, but if it puts me on top I'll take the prize money as consolation.

So far, my predictions have me in about the middle of the pack. Go U Conn! I need them in my final four.

Another spring ritual involves my giving up something for Lent, long a tradition of my Catholic upbringing. This year I put Lay's Potato Chips on that list. My wife Wendy thought it more appropriate that I include all potato chips but I didn't think that necessary. Lay's are far and away are my favorite.

So . . . last week Wendy and I tried out a new sandwich shop. We both ordered turkey reubens to go. The sandwiches were prepared out of sight, put into a couple plain brown paper bags, we paid for them, and we left.

I think you know where this is going.

As we were driving off, Wendy opened one of the bags and gasped.

"You'll never believe what's in here?" she said.

I think you know what it was. Somebody obviously was testing me. And . . . I must confess, I failed. Twice, since Wendy didn't want her bag. I figure since I hadn't ordered them myself and had no knowledge they were included with the sandwich, it was okay.

But I do feel guilty now. I guess I should make amends. Maybe from now till Easter, I'll include all potato chips. Yes. And since it's here in black and white, you know it's a promise I'll keep. Too many spies willing to add a comment here.