Hot Date

Friday night I went out on a date. My wife knows and approves...

My nephew (just under 8 months old) had surgery Friday morning and I went up to see him, spend some time with my family, and also let my wife work in a quiet house on some stuff for her graduate classes. My sister called as I was driving to let me know the surgery went fine and to see if I wanted to take my niece to a minor league hockey game. Sure.

Last year she came here to a hockey game and it left a big impression on her. So we surprised her and the two of us went to the game, giving her parents and my parents a break from her energy and questions that are common to 5 year olds.

Minor league hockey is a little different than NHL hockey. The ice looked smaller. The players smaller. The arena smaller but the fans are passionate and loud. Tickets are cheaper, as are the refreshments.

My niece paid more attention to the game this time around and asked a lot of questions. Why did they take those two players over there to that box? They were bad and had to go sit in timeout. Why are the fans booing those men wearing stripes? That is just what you do at hockey games. Why does everyone have a stick? That is what they use to move the puck. Throughout the game she asked me questions but I didn't mind.

After the game, she made me promise that I would take her to another game, before she drifted off to sleep on the drive home. Of course I will.





Oh, my nephew is back to normal. He already had the tubes out from the surgery before I made it to the hospital Saturday morning and didnt seem to be that sore from the surgery.