While news about wild partying keeps coming in from Miami Beach, Florida and other favorite spring-break places it was fairly calm here at 601 E. Lee Street in Allen last Sunday. Local activities mostly centered on comparing basketball bracket predictions and the awe and/or anguish that went with it.

The bruhaha on the pretty beaches of Miami came after months of poor business and amid fading hopes by bar owners and restaurants along the famous beach. Their hope was replaced by horror as the long-awaited spring-breakers arrived with other things on their minds. From what I could see on the TV their main activity was to stomp in the roofs of parked cars, throw chairs through plate glass windows, start fires and hurt one another. Mayhem. Police finally declared the great beaches and restaurants that line the coast off limits. Only traffic allowed in the area now is local residential traffic as Miami Beach promoters and police cleared out the area. Businesses are counting their losses and licking their wounds. No hopes now that this big spring break would bail them out of their Covid induced recession.

Meanwhile, the energetic bracket makers at my place were not near as destructive. Mostly sitting around my den awaiting the next crazy episode of “March Madness” on TV. We all wondered about the next upcoming upset. But we noticed that the Sooners have to play the dreaded Gonzaga next. It is like meeting up with some hired killers. But there it was. OSU along with most of the other big 12 had graciously exited the tournament and now it was OU’s turn. They had to face Gonzaga. The dreaded basketball beast of Spokane was snorting and waiting on fresh meat. We looked to be the ground beef.

I was sorry my big crowd of visitors had departed before the Sooners and Gonzaga took to the floor, but it was Monday and my crowd of kin had scattered toward their homes. It was a shame too, for just a few minutes into the big game, Oklahoma looked good and ran up an 11-point lead. But before halftime, Aloysius’s blessed players came charging back and laid it on us. But it was a hard-fought game with OU making a strong comeback bid late in the game. But basketball and time and space and referees are a fickle force. And finally mighty Gonzaga swept us away.

I still felt that if I could have had all my Sunday dinner gang here Monday afternoon, we could have taken them. I will name this weekend crew anyway. The main guest of the weekend was newly born Iggy Difranco Bouchard, my first and only “great”. At 4 months you would think he would be a little embarrassed by such a handle, but he was not. His mother, Julia (Runge) Bouchard was in charge of little Iggy. His great-grandmother, Pat kept a close eye on Iggy. Also, here in Allen was Iggy’s grandmother, Traci Runge and his uncle, Alec Runge. His granduncle, Dr. Ron Bullard of Bakersfield was there for the occasion as was his grand-uncle Steve Bullard of Tulsa. Dr. Tim Costner and Iggy’s grandaunt Lesli showed up as did his cousin Meegan, a current student at OU. His aunt Emilee and uncle Ryan McClain of Edmond drove down for the festive occasion and good food.

You could say the biggest thing missing out of my now nearly empty house is the noise and commotion the big crowd brought with them last weekend. And I think I sort of miss it. I hope you had a good weekend and were, like me able to attend your church last Sunday. If not, just remember, we have another Sunday this coming weekend. Be sure and try to attend your church then. And yes, I enjoy hearing from my readers. You.

Wayne Bullard, DPh

cwaynebullard@gmail.com