Accident

I cancelled my trip to Cristin Donahue’s wedding in Philadelphia after Dave got struck by a car while coaching during a tennis match at East Chicago Central. He was talking with a player who had just finished his match when someone hit the gas instead of the brake and pinned him next to a utility pole. His leg swelled up to twice its size due to internal bleeding and an emergency operation took place. Fortunately no vein or artery was affected, and most of the blood was near the surface, so the surgery wasn’t as invasive as first feared. He got out of the hospital Sunday afternoon and though in much pain is on the mend.

I got a chance to join the Labor Day week-end gathering of Toni’s family in South Bend. The day before Alissa and Josh were at the Notre Dame game when lightning struck right after authorities had evacuated the stands. In Ann Arbor the Michigan game was cancelled due to lightning, the first time ever. Mother nature is pounding the East Coast with rain and fires have been devastating Texas due to draught conditions.

Tuesday I interviewed Congressman Peter Visclosky about his parents for my forthcoming book tentatively called “On Their Shoulders.” Beforehand, Chancellor Lowe showed him the new computer facilities in the library. Pete’s father was mayor of Gary for a year after popular boss George Chacharis went to prison. During the Depression he quit school to work at a CCC camp after his father died. He evidently was a great athlete and in the navy during WW II. Later the Chancellor mentioned meeting with Richard Hatcher and that my name came up.

The final Thrill of the Grill featured Chad Clifford and Aaron Hedges of the Crawpuppies, who were great doing two acoustic sets. I gave Chad, a former student, volume 41 (he’s in it four times), and he gave me their new CD. In addition to familiar songs by Dylan, Lennon, Petty, Sting, and the like, they did the original song “We,” which sounds a little like the Jayhawks. Back home, popped a beer and was impressed with how great their CD sounded. They’re opening for Cracker at Valpo’s Popcorn Fest Saturday.

With help from Toni and Phil I was at the ESPN site where our Fantasy Football draft took place. Drafting fifth in the first round I took running back ,Jamal Charles; I also have Matt Forte and Andre Johnson, among others.