I spent some time in downtown Oklahoma City last week and among other things, attended the FCCLA convention at the Cox Center. It’s a big building but reading the Oklahoman last week I learned the old Cox Convention Center was ragged and in fact the writer said it hadn’t aged well. So I looked it over for myself. Steve Lackmeyer also wonders, in fact how long the old Chesapeake Center itself will be adequate for the Thunder. I deduct from his wonderings that the “moguls” in our Capitol City will be looking to replace Chesapeake in the years ahead.

Let me say this: with the buildup taking place in front of Chesapeake of outdoors things to entertain the fans, the entire area has shaped up as a pleasant place in downtown Oklahoma City. The addition of the new downtown park adjacent to the Brick Town Entertainment Center is about ready for its grand opening and people across the state will be surprised how this park will spark up the looks of the old downtown area. The new convention center is under construction and will be a great asset not only to Oklahoma City but to the State of Oklahoma as well. The new Omni Hotel is under construction too and it will provide to the area a full service hotel. Parking garages will provide (I hope) plenty of space for us to park and enjoy all these wonders when we journey up to the “City.”

Another note: I did see the streetcars gliding around downtown. They looked impressive too, and quiet, and I didn’t have a chance to ride one. But I will. They are much quieter and smoother than the Dinky that served Allen so many years, but they may lack the character the little trains brought to the rails in Allen. And this: Lesley McCaslin will be leaving her team of broadcasters, Mike Cage, Chris Fisher and Nick Gallo, and moving back to Dallas. If you didn’t notice, our Lesley McCaslin is P.G. and I congratulate her on this and wish her well. We will miss our Lesley.

As most of you may know, I got sick last week while up in the City and had to go over to my favorite hospital, the VA, and get some medical attention. I am happy to report they (as usual) did an excellent job of doctoring me back to health and Monday I came home in much better shape than when I went up there. I hope my doctors can keep me in good enough shape to attend some special football games coming up in the future.

My OU has scheduled games with Alabama on September 11, 2032 and an away game the next season in 2033. Looking optimistically down the long road, I see we are playing Clemson in 2035 at home and 2036 away. Best of all, we will once more play our old nemesis, The University of Nebraska even sooner, in 2021 here in Norman and the away game follows in 2022. I really miss playing Nebraska. They were our strongest foe year after year and then they left the Big-12. I predict that the game in 2021 will be the big game of the year.

Nowadays, when I try to plan my future plans, I have to do some math and supposing. Suppose I’ll even be here in 2021? Then there is my much beloved Alabama game in 2032. I’ll get a calculator out later and see what my probabilities are of being here and alive in Allen. Then there is Clemson. I’ll be 100 that day. Wish me luck.

Be sure and pay attention to the cleanup (fi rst week in May) here in Allen. Pick up that trash and ship it out. That old junk car? Get rid of it. Call the city, they like to help you with your special problems. But sometimes you need to call them.

Have a good week and be sure and go to Church Sunday.

Wayne Bullard, DPh

waynebullard@sbcglobal.net