Sunday Morning After

I guess this could be appropriately called the "morning after."  

Attending last night's Gonzaga basketball game against San Diego IN THE KENNEL in great seats would rank right up there in lifetime highlights.

On this morning after, it's a gorgeous winter day.  

All is calm and all is bright, except for an occasional "boom" sounding off up at Schweitzer for avalanche control.

As far as yesterday is concerned, it was nip and tuck whether Lasean and I would make it to the Zags game.

First, one of my car doors would not shut.  Then, two.  Then, three.

Bill surmised that the problem is electrical, so the car sits in the storage shed, and tomorrow we'll have to figure out how to get it to a shop with three doors flying open.

Plan B involved taking his Ford Ranger pickup---the deerslayer.  

Even yesterday, I'm betting deer were staying off the roads.

We even considered a rental car as we moved through the morning, plowing, shoveling and testing those Jimmy doors to see if they would ever decide to shut.

Lasean and I had originally planned to meet at Sagle between 1:30-2 p.m. because our wonderful benefactor had told us it's a good idea to get to the McArthey Center an hour before the game.

At one point in the morning, I came inside to check my Facebook and learned that a horrific accident had blocked HWY 95----for as much as six hours.

Long story short, the highway was blocked for ten hours.  One person died, four semis were involved and some other vehicles.  

The Idaho State Police website said to take another route. 

I read in one account that the Dufort detour was safe.  Roads had been sanded; people were making it through.

I told Bill about the awful wreck.  He said he'd go out and drive the highway in the Ranger to see just how bad conditions were.

During that time, Lasean called me back from an earlier call and said, "Let's forget it." 

I agreed.

Then, Bill came home, saying the roads were not that bad.

Eventually, I called Lasean back to suggest that maybe her son Charles could take her to the game.

She said Charles was plowing somewhere north of town and had told her the roads were not that bad.

So, we decided to give it a try.

We drove the Dufort route and enjoyed mainly dry roads all the way to Spokane.

From the moment we walked into McArthey gym, we were mesmerized by action on the court and action all around us. 

We enjoyed watching the entertaining hour-long workout the Zags do before the game, all to upbeat, cool music. 

We also watched for familiar faces, like John Stockton, the KHQ commentators and Coach Few. Mark Few appears at the last minute before the game.

The cheerleading squad is phenomenal. 

Seeing the Gonzaga student body in the Kennel trumped almost every aspect of our visit last night.  The electricity, enthusiasm and magnetism are difficult to describe. 

One must see and hear that scene for oneself.

In short, the ZAGS folks know how to put on a good three-hour show, and the nitty gritty of the whole event----a basketball game---was exhilarating, to say the least. 

Seeing those players, close-up, in real life, gives a whole new appreciation for their athleticism and tremendous basketball skills. 

I enjoyed every minute of the game which went by much too fast AND they won handily. 

The trip home was a bit dicey from Rathdrum north as new snow was falling, coating the highway and diminishing visibility.

Normally a lead foot, I did not mind driving 45 miles an hour, nor did the folks behind me.  I think everyone on the road last night was aware of the tragedy that had happened earlier in the day. 

So, we made it home safe and sound.  Again, this morning, I feel very grateful toward angels, Pat and Carol, who gave up their seats for us to enjoy an unforgettable night.

Thank you so much!