It is true. Football season is finally here. Especially for OU, OSU and our Allen Mustangs. But things are vastly different this season from any season ever. It is this confounded Covid-19. It is got everything, especially my perceptions all messed up. Of course, it is a sorry day indeed that I cannot make my own football games. I am in that group of old people who have immune problems which my doctor says would make my having a case of Corona Virus most likely be fatal. And I am still held captive by my wife of 62 years from attending my church and any other gatherings. So, if you see me at any, do not tell her.

I read in the Daily Oklahoman the other day that church attendance may not come back. At least to the numbers reported before this pandemic. I do not know and I guess we will just have to see. I do not think I ever realized just how important it is to me to be able to attend my church and enjoy the fellowship of the church family. So, it is strange to me to think people will not return when they can.

And now this. A resident of Norman reported that their Mayor had instructed various members of her staff to attend several Norman churches this past weekend to see how many were attending and how many were not masked up. What is she going to do? Lock them up? This mayor is a left/wing liberal who faces being thrown out of office over her antipolice and other liberal stands. I will wait and see how this turns out. I do not think my mayor (Dianna Brannan) would ever do anything like this. Besides, she has an exceedingly small staff.

My new football tickets at OU show my seat has been moved to the opposite corner from where I used to sit. That corner usually holds the visitor’s band. Hope I do not have to take a musical instrument with me if I go up there. My daughter Lesli has graciously offered to sit in for me so I will let her worry about this.

The Advocate says this is Allen’s 100 ^th year of football. Last week I said it was their 101 ^st . But I was wrong. I know it is Noble’s 52 ^nd year since in 1968 I took a carload up there for our 48 th season opener. It was Noble’s first football game. Ever. And we went up there and thumped them good as I remember. For sure, I remember that they had not completed their restrooms yet and after a good long drive, Allen fans were in dire need. So, we all had to exit, drive back to downtown Noble, find a service station before we could play any ball. Now, Noble has another grand new stadium and I am told complete with an adequate number of flushers. After 48 years, about time. Now you know.

Noble officials were reported to be making ticket buyers put on their masks and giving those who did not have one a freebee. Do not know how that would go here but by now most schools are trying everything to hold their covid-19 numbers down. Even for those who think it is a hoax. Perhaps these new instant tests for the virus will help Oklahoma to get a handle on this and some morning we will just wake up and it will be over. Oh well, we can hope, can’t we?

This Labor Day many went to the lakes. It is what I used to do best. And when I pulled my boat out of the water, I knew that Summer’s End had come and gone. North winds and cold weather would soon prevail, and it seemed like a millennium before spring would come and I could, again, load up my wife and kids and start it all over again. Sounds like a surprisingly good deal to me as I sit here on this Labor Day holiday. At home. My boat, camper and my kids long gone. Still have my wife. And I am alright with that.

Be sure and go to church this Sunday if you can. And take your mask.

Wayne Bullard, DPh cwaynebullard@gmail.com