Windsor Tomcats

Footnote: I wondered what it would be like for one of the longest-running Tomcats not to be playing this year, so I asked him.

We met at Stevo’s home in Beautiful Essex Ontario, he asked me to join him in his hot tub, so I said ’sure’.

Question: So what is it like not getting ready to play this year

Answer: Mid way through last year, I knew I could not play this year, I was 5 steps behind everyone, (more like 10) I had it in my mind I was going to be done and knowing what I know about my play last year, I am able to accept that fact, so not getting ready for the upcoming season, means morer BBQ’s, Golf and twisted teas.

Q: Is there one thing you will miss?

A: I think the first night seeing everyone, the magic that occurs on stage when guys walk on and smile and shake hands or hug. I will miss that, I know I will.

Q: What will you do with yourself on Tuesdays?

A: There is a bar here in town and they do country line dancing, It costs $10 a class, I may sign up for that. (He says smiling)

Q: How is your knee feeling?

A: I have good days, with Tiger Balm and Volteren and CBD Oil and it helps, other days it is fine on its own and then of course on other days, I can’t even make a turn when I get up off the couch.

Q: What do you think of this years format where you and 3 other retired Tomcats will be selecting the teams?

A: Wow, what a great idea and what a great way to get the alumni involved. I am looking forward to it.

Q: Is there one thing you will miss the most about Tuesday nights on stage?

A: Hmmm, let’s see, yes, you know, while having beers on stage, after hockey, I will miss tossing beer caps into Bullwinkle’s gym bag when he is not looking.

Q: Is there anything you want to say to the boys, who might read this blog?

A: I am not falling off the face of the earth, I hope to stop in on a Tuesday here and there to say hi and have a beverage. I will miss the camaraderie ….I love those guys, 30 best friends, right there wearing their Tomcat swag.

I asked if I could come back and talk to him midway through the season and get a further perspective and he agreed, in the meantime, he wanted to leave the boys a poem that he came across by an author, by the name of Charles Bukowski. “Tomcats are magic” Stevo told me, as he read me the poem called Nirvana.

Nirvana

not much chance,

completely cut loose from

purpose,

he was a young man

riding a bus

through North Carolina

on the way to somewhere

and it began to snow

and the bus stopped

at a little cafe

in the hills

and the passengers

entered.

he sat at the counter

with the others,

he ordered and the

food arived.

the meal was

particularly

good

and the

coffee.

the waitress was

unlike the women

he had

known.

she was unaffected,

there was a natural

humor which came

from her.

the fry cook said

crazy things.

the dishwasher.

in back,

laughed, a good

clean

pleasant

laugh.

the young man watched

the snow through the

windows.

he wanted to stay

in that cafe

forever.

the curious feeling

swam through him

that everything

was

beautiful

there,

that it would always

stay beautiful

there.

then the bus driver

told the passengers

that it was time

to board.

the young man

thought, I’ll just sit

here, I’ll just stay

here.

but then

he rose and followed

the others into the

bus.

he found his seat

and looked at the cafe

through the bus

window.

then the bus moved

off, down a curve,

downward, out of

the hills.

the young man

looked straight

foreward.

he heard the other

passengers

speaking

of other things,

or they were

reading

or

attempting to

sleep.

they had not

noticed

the

magic.

the young man

put his head to

one side,

closed his

eyes,

pretended to

sleep.

there was nothing

else to do—

just to listen to the

sound of the

engine,

the sound of the

tires

in the

snow.

Is it me, or is Sunny not the handsomest Tomcat?

Thanks for reading, I’m Ophelia Butts.

I leave you with a funny…..