Was the outcome ever in doubt......I think not.

This month is one when many high schools and colleges hold their homecoming celebrations.  It's a chance for alumni to return to their respective schools, spend some time with old friends, relive some old memories, and hopefully, celebrate the event with a victory over a fierce rival on the football field.

Usually the week preceding the game is filled with activities as well. There's the obligatory spirit week contest, pep rally, and usually a homecoming parade.  Of course, the main event occurs at half-time when the Homecoming Queen is crowned, and receives the celebratory kiss from the captain of the football team. Afterward, at least at most high schools, the finale is a big homecoming dance.

At least that's the way I remember it from "back in the day".....

My senior year in high school I was selected as captain of the football team.  Actually, that's not quite true, as for the first time in team history we had tri-captains. I'm not really sure why or how that happened, but it did and the duties were shared among the three of us.....can you see where this is going?

As the Homecoming festivities approached, the voting for the Queen was on every one's mind.  Of course the only candidate I remember from that election ended up being my current bride, Miss Elizabeth, and in my mind the outcome was never in question.

The week before Homecoming, one of our captains incurred a season ending ankle injury...out for the season, but still available to perform the captain's duty of crowning the queen. Not In This Lifetime!

When I heard that the decision had been made to have our injured captain crown the queen, I was shall we say "concerned".  I've always been a pretty easy going guy, and I don't suppose the principal and guidance counselor had ever seen a different side of me before that day. I'm not sure my argument was all that persuasive, but in the end it was agreed that "if" the crown went to Miss Elizabeth, I would do the honors..... 

Again, if my memory serves me correctly, the senior class won the spirit week award, we had a fine pep rally that whipped everyone into a frenzy for the big game, followed by a somewhat haphazard parade around the school. We then played a big game against a team we were supposed to beat, and yes, there was a big homecoming dance.

We lost the game to Fort Scott 14-7, and the dance was a dud.

However, in the fall of 1968, one of the tri-captains crowned the homecoming queen, and life's been a celebration ever since.

I believe it was the right selection......Yes, " I do."