A good/bad day for TCU and some voting news

 

There was much joy among TCU fans today as the Frogs pulled off an amazing victory in double overtime to beat Oklahoma State 43-40. A capacity crowd in Amon Carter Stadium cheered the victory, many rushing onto the field. On Facebook, ecstatic fans reported exhaustion, hoarseness, bliss, surprise, all kinds of joy. Some confessed they had reservations about the hiring of Sonny Dykes but now they are fans. For the Frogs, so beleaguered in the last couple of seasons, it was truly a triumphant day.

But there was sadness—Dr William E. Tucker, chancellor from 1979 until 1998, passed away today. For many of us it was an unexpected shock. This kind and gentle man felt like a personal friend to any who had met him even once. When I first went to work on the administration side of things (TCU Press), coming from the classroom first as a graduate student and then an occasional adjunct, I had no idea who this slight but friendly man was that I kept meeting in the stairwell. Soon enough, I learned it was the chancellor. Thereafter, I saw him and his lovely wife, Jean, at church. They always knew exactly who I was and greeted me as though I were a close friend. When Jean’s health failed, Bill often came to church alone. I had retired and suffered some health problems, and he would stop to ask how I was doing. He was that kind of a good man.

In the next few days, obituaries will praise his many accomplishments as an ordained minister, the dean of Brite Divinity School, president of Bethany College, and, finally, chancellor of the university, the position from which he retired. There’s no need for me to list his record, but as one who worked for the university during his leadership, I just want to say the world is a little bit less bright tonight.

And it’s Saturday night. So what does a grandmother, single and in her eighties, do on a Saturday night? Why, address envelopes for those Beto letters I so carefully formatted on my computer, of course. My handwriting has not improved with age, so addressing the envelopes loomed as a great chore. Writing by hand is like a lot of other things—if I can do it automatically without thinking about it, I’m pretty much okay; but if I think about trying to write perfectly, I mess up. Today I only had to scrap one envelope—it was a complicated Polish name, and my first attempt was a disaster. And I had to reprint one letter because I had made the salutation part of the recipient’s name in the address. I looked at it and thought “Dear” was a strange first name, but you know people have a lot of unusual first names. Then I realized what I’d done. Tonight, I’m relieved and a bit proud to have finished.

I still get those emails begging for money, telling me I’ve been chosen, implying that my vote is the one thing that the entire election hinges on, and why won’t I say how I’m voting. But I am also getting pleas to help—specifically to be a poll watcher. Lord knows, with the rumors about voter intimidation going around, we need poll watchers. So, these emails make me feel a bit guilty, but I can’t respond to a form letter and point out that I am mobility challenged and cannot possibly do that.

The Act Blue donation site has been down again—at least it won’t talk to my computer (several sites won’t, and friend Mary thinks it’s me). Anyway, not that I am able to contribute that much but there’s another reason for my guilt. Tonight, it appeared to be working so I sent modest checks to the DCCC and to John Fetterman, because I hate that Dr. Oz and Tucker Carlson and others are broadcasting disinformation about his stroke recovery. Fetterman, admitting recovery is hard, said it best: In January, he’ll be better, and Oz will still be a fraud.

And I filled out my mail-in ballot today, being careful to meet all the new requirements. My ballot was rejected in the primaries, and I by gosh want to be sure it’s counted this time. Straight blue ticket, but I noted that the ballot no long offers you the option to vote a straight ticket. You must go through and laboriously mark each box.

Hooray! I get to read the rest of the evening. I’m reading a manuscript sent me with a request for comments. It’s a PI thriller, not my usual reading, but I’m hooked and biting my nails a lot. When it’s published, I’ll alert you all.

Sweet dreams and positive thoughts!