Re: gathering my thoughts, on the Gathering - Yester, next. 

Part 1: In search of better fete.

What just happened?! More personally, "what was I thinking?! Or, stated more plaintively, "what happened to me, just wasn't myself, lost sight of..." This, after some regrettable re-marks, or even missed opportunities. OR, in the case of "the botched play that eclipses all previous botched plays strung together!" -- one that simultaneously (which was quickly "simul-casted") had players on both sides of the ball, scratching their heads, after they were finally allowed to take off their helmets (which results in a penalty if they do so while the ball is "live")...as well as the coaches..."one can only wonder..."what they were thinking?!" Well, if only they could have put the whole thing on "slow mo" -- can you relate? As when I, myself, in the midst of growing controversy, after first being invited to the "gathering", after I paid the host the courtesy of an RSVP, showed up what I thought was "fashionably late", my first mistake, the beginning of what was to my un-doing...of a litany (see December 18th post for a 'playlist') of errors of mis-judgement, poor timing...missed opportunities, mis-calculations, all of which de-volved into, "in my humble opinion, from my camera angle, my point of view..." being mis-understood😞, as if I had the worst of intentions, meant to insult, at the very least found my remarks "dis-ingenuous" even early on, "patron-izing" as the evening grew on, and finally, just prior to my semi-grace-full exit, "You're con-descending" by "not addressing me how I prefer..." I can now see how such a botched play by "the Patriots" which (literally via laterally) played into the hands of the "Raiders". It's still a blur to me, the numbers of times that I started out, with the best of intentions, made what were benign, even kind, perhaps ingratiating remarks, in an attempt to simply start a convo with the person seated next to me (which was not of my choosing, but that of the host, just trying to make the most)...Now, in the safety of my own home, with the distance of time and space, I find myself finally, being to re-gather, my thoughts and reflections on this event-full gathering, "once-in-a lifetime" (TG!)...

What just happened: As in an objective review of what they found so "objectionable!" -- a statement of facts, presenting them to you via video or, when I failed to press "video" I at least sent you a "still shot" that might, as they say, those photo shooters, "a picture tells 1,000..." or, as another alternate input, for you "audiophiles" out there, some "amped up" audio out-takes I referenced which became part of my down-fall (as it sure amped up their emotions, reactions, to a seemingly innocuous comment), mid-evening, an ornamental broadcast to all, the ones I did not intend to message (once again you need to go back, hear, at least read what was said)...

Retro-spection: In hind-sight, clear-view, "Monday morning quarterbacking..." (not actually Monday here, but you get the gist of this, right, how I intended it, but it worked out other-wise?) What culminated after a pre-game meet in the locker room, lots of rehearsal prior, and then that (literally) last minute huddle, right smack dab in the full sight of millions of onlookers, what started out and actually looked like a pre-designed play, destined to "eat up as much ground and clock as possible" under the circumstances (which for me meant just making conversation until I could get away, even un-noticed), quickly changed directions (literally), as a game-within-a-game, reminiscent of "keep away" or perhaps "hot potato!" when it inadvertently landed in the hands of one whose initial look of shock gave way to acting as if it was his most prized possession, doing a 180 (literally) and running "like there was no tomorrow!" until he reached the safety of the end, zone (where he proceeded to slam this thing he had just hugged into the turf -- weird!)...home field advantage is what we used to call it as kids, when we thought the refs were a bit "judgy" It's as if they had been given paid compliments, "bought and paid for😠!" I can re-late, after being bruised and battered, after being what I felt was completely "miss judged" 😡😞 after so many friendly gestures, reaching out with olive branches (literally, didn't they get the meaning, or was it that I took it from the holiday decor so uncouth? "Jeez!") and other things deemed under other conditions of play "AOK" (Acts of Kindness) They say that "charity begins at home" which seemed to have gotten through to the Patriots even though they were "Visitors", so why not me; why can't those I tried to give...slapped the hand that...so much push back😤...

"Was this a set-up? Sure felt that way, after the fact, in retro-spect. Depending on what angle you view it from (e.g. "Home" versus "Visitors" side of the field..."simul-casted") it also looked that way, now that I can put my mind on "slow mo" and look at it from all angles, view-points...I can now see the sequence of events that were, at least in their minds, so event-full, whereas I was completely blind-sided, didn't see it coming...as in their almost volcanic eruption of emotions, in response to what I, myself, thought to be in "good cheer", given the time of year -- so much so it came off as being "blithely"...too much "insouciance" for the occasion, for their palates, in-the-moment (go ahead and use these "cool" descriptors at your next outing and you'll likely earn quizzical looks). Add this to my audio-file, of respondents' responses to even what I (literally) introduced, pro-nounced, as being "nice", in turn was denounced...as being something..."naughty". If you aren't convinced, haven't yet felt my pain, see December 19th post as to why, these days, depending on the time and place, especially if not familiar with the House rules, I can't even get away, get penalized, for even saying something "Nice". It's just not fair...if you ask me. Perhaps I can mount a comeback that could eclipse that from the very same day, that made NFL headlines, "Historical!" Well, maybe not, as I lack homefield advantage. Unfair.

Note to Self: Next year, when tempted to make what I think are even kind remarks...just walk on past the egg nogg, and "take the fifth!"

More, Re: Porting, from the (ob)scene...coming up.