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Here it is Friday already  — I’m so late with this update that it borders on silly.

Last week I was invited by a client to appear on his weekly radio show in New York — Sayegh Advice.  His last name (Sayegh) is pronounced “sage”…so now you get the play on words.  According to Oma (Karen’s Mom), I’m now a legitimate radio star.  I have yet to hear the results of the broadcast, but I can assure all of you that live radio is not as intimidating as you might think.  I don’t think I wet myself once…

So!  What’s a hard-working guy and proud Dad supposed to do with his time in the Great Northeast?  See the kiddies of course!  Kristin, Cameron and I had a chance to relax together, eat good food, and visit close friends.  We enjoyed dinner on the first night with Mary Kate (who was also kind enough to pick me up at the airport), and we also gorged ourselves on Night Two at Angelo’s with Sami, Jacquie, Jack and Cemile (Jack’s Nene and Sami’s Mom).

I had a camera with me, but I didn’t take many pictures.  I also shot a lot of video, but my videography skills are poor at best…I can’t even edit the footage to make it presentable.  But Sami did get one great shot of Kristin and Jack:

C’mon now…is that a great shot?  Damn right it is…

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were NY days, and then it was off to Annapolis on Saturday.  The plan was to see Navy play Rutgers (football) and then have dinner with Mark.

Everyone is familiar with the Marine Corps. motto, right?  Semper Fidelis — always faithful.  Well, Naval Academy parents have their own motto: Semper Gumby — always flexible.  A Mid’s parents can plan all they want, but if the Academy decides it wants to change things, things get changed.  In this case, the changes were for the better!

I was lucky enough to catch a ride to Annapolis with the great guy that runs Sami’s BMW Service Department (Craig).  Sami and Craig made sure we traveled in style in a big-ass 750i that gobbled up the miles without a hiccup.  On the way, we got a text message from Mark suggesting we have lunch.  Lunch?  Lunch wasn’t in the plan, but as it turned out, he had liberty from noon to two before the game.  Wonderful!  Craig set the cruise control on warp speed, and we barreled into Annapolis with several million other people attending 1st and 2nd class parents’ weekends, homecoming, 8 bazillion class reunions (including John McCain’s complete with Secret Service), and a Rutger’s fan contingent that covered the area in red.

We had a quick lunch before Mark had to bail in order to form up for the march on.

If you’ve never seen a march on, you should.  4,000 plus midshipmen hit the streets of Annapolis between the Yard and Memorial Stadium to march into the stadium and on to the field.  The locals turn out to toss candy and drinks to the Mids (who are not supposed to look like they’re catching them).  It’s a serious but fun parade and at this time of year, a sea of white uniforms.

The Mids form up on the field and do what they’re trained to do — look impressive.  Then…and this was so cool to a newcomer like me…the Mids all pivot as one to face the Visitor’s side of the field.  The Rutger’s fans may be supporting the “opposition”, but they’re Americans first and they know “cool” when they see it.  Everyone in those seats got their red-draped rear-ends up out of their seats and screamed their heads off as the Mids chanted “R-U-T-G-E-R-S….go Rutgers!”  Then, and again as one, the Mids all tipped their hats to the crowd in a professional manner…and the visiting crowd went bananas.

Cool, right?  It gets better.  The Mids pivot again as one and face the Navy side of the Stadium.  The place goes ape-shit.  This is a crowd that knows the drill, and in unison with the Mids (who are somehow much louder now than when they chanted the Rutgers cheer), the whole place erupts with “N-A-V-Y…GO NAVY…FIGHT!”  Directly beneath me, a freakin’ cannon goes off.  I kid you not.  The Mids who fire the damn thing are wearing ear plugs…couldn’t they warn the rest of us?  The Rutgers fans around me duck like they’re being bombed, and the stadium is a madhouse of screaming fans, flying cheerleaders, and blue and gold everywhere.  Two Osprey’s fly overhead for the flyover and blow every one’s minds as they stop, hover, and take off like UFO’s.  It is an incredible environment.

During the game, I roam around hoping to be able spend some time with Mark.  Normally, the Mids are restricted to “Brigade seating”, but because it was Parents’ weekend for two classes, the rules were a bit relaxed.  We ended up eating really messy food for a bit before he had to return to his seat about midway through the third quarter.

At halftime, I ran into Tony (our favorite pizza guy in Warwick!). Tony and I pulled a lot of hair out together during the Fall of 2007 while we both waited to hear if our sons earned their appointments.  Now we both get to smile and enjoy the experience (and what an experience it is…).

When Mark returned to his seat, I joined Craig and his Dad in their seats for the rest of the game.  Any of you that know Craig should become his best friend.  Those of you that don’t know Craig should call Orange County BMW and schedule your car for service…even if you drive a Nissan.  Craig’s seats are phenomenal!  We had a blast as Navy used the final two minutes to win a very tough game.  Yes!

When Navy Football emerges victorious, good things tend to happen.  First, as the game progressed, we learned that a plebe had bet the Commandant (Capt. Klunder) that Navy would win.  If it seems unusual that the Commandant would bet against his own team, please understand that plebes must bet the game if challenged by an upperclassman or officer, and the plebe must always take the Navy side of the bet.  In this case, the bet was made when Navy was down.  I don’t know what the plebe offered on her side of the bet, but the ‘Dant said “if you plebes can fire up the Brigade and help Navy win, I’ll grant you an overnight.”

Word spread like bird flu in China.  Plebes sit down in the front of the Brigade, and suddenly, it looked like somebody spiked their cokes with acid.  They went absolutely bat-shit trying to rally the Brigade into mass hysteria.  It worked!

The Navy side of the field was pandemonium, and Navy slowly worked it’s way back into position to ultimately and dramatically win the game!

But!  The bet stipulated that the overnight was to be awarded on Columbus Day weekend.  The ‘Dant decided the plebes deserved more, so he awarded the overnight on the spot!  Get out of Dodge, boys and girls!  Absolute insanity!

As a side note, I’ve since learned that the Commandant upheld his end of the bargain for Columbus Day as well…and then some.  Mark just told me that they’ll be awarded two nights of liberty for the long weekend!  Let me tell you…you have to be a plebe or a parent to really appreciate just how significant this is…

Okay…back to the football game…or the aftermath, anyway:

Mark and I grabbed a cab and hit one of his favorite dinner spots — Ruth’s Chris.  I’m wondering…have any of you ever seen a human being inhale about 12 ounces of steak?  This kid had a filet the size of a softball covered in crab meat…and it was gone in about six seconds.  He demolished an entire platter of au gratin potatoes, and he gnawed on onion rings while contemplating dessert (banana creme pie).  Wow.

Then…relaxation time.  We strolled over to DTA (Mid-speak for downtown Annapolis), we talked with a few friends of his (who were leaving town to do God knows what), we had more dessert (yes…more…a huge bowl of ice cream at his favorite place), we hit Bancroft Hall to grab a change of clothes, and then we crashed at my hotel.  Mids love “real beds” and Mark is no exception.

Unfortunately, there was no way to know that Mark would have a day of freedom on Sunday (normally Sunday liberty is restricted to the Yard), so I had a flight to catch.  Mark made arrangements with his wonderful sponsor family to spend the day kicking back at their place, and I flew back to Paradise.  All in all, it was a great surprise and a great weekend!

Now…as Columbus Day rolls near, Mark’s Mom, Susie, and Susie’s family will all be in Annapolis for the long weekend.  With two overnights scheduled, it’s sure to be a great time!

For us, we most likely won’t see Mark again until Christmas.  He’s coming off a week of mid term exams now, and he’ll be spending Thanksgiving in New Jersey.  Maybe if we’re lucky…

But we’re due back in New York in just a few short weeks!  Kristin and Cameron…get ready!