By now, most of you out there in reader land know that Miss Trixie and I have been delayed in our summer journey to Colorful Colorado. I have not been this late in going since I retired some 17 years ago and it's really beginning to wear on me. 

Texas has not been too hot, but the humidity is ferocious, and you all know how that feels. Ol’ Dutch has been sweating enough to fill a small tub but as my mom used to say, “look how much weight you are losing.” So, there is that.  

Being delayed due to some insurance claims on the Conestoga and some house issues does come with some benefits as the Grands are in activities. So, we get to go watch them compete. Grand #1 does volleyball and barrel racing events, and those are always fun to attend. Generally, they are either inside or under cover so it's not too bad of a sit.  

But Grand #2 is involved in travel soccer, fastpitch softball and has done barrel racing events. So, all that keeps Ol’ Dutch and Miss Trixie busy as two beavers in a birch forest. It seems that we just get started on some project when it becomes time to leave for some event or contest and so away, we go with the rest of the grandparents and parents.  

This past weekend we had an all-day sucker of an event as Grand #2 had a fastpitch softball tournament. And luckily or unluckily – however it may strike you – they advanced to the finals which meant all day Saturday we got to sit out in the sun and bake with all the other family members. This is Texas, so you would think people would build shade for the spectators of these contests. I guess people who made it through the Alamo are a hardy stock and could care less about creature comforts.  

Everyone just sat and sweated down to their underwear and the mothers in attendance bared their bodies to old Sol and got as sunburned as a red Georgia peach. From the looks of them I am sure that not a few probably missed church on Sunday morning as they won't be wearing sleeves anytime soon. Sit, we did. And sweat, we did. In the process, Ol’ Dutch learned a thing or two about modern-day children's sports. 

Now, I already knew it was expensive to join and play on these teams as I had heard the horror stories of weekly checks large enough to make a nice car payment. When one mother mentioned that her 10-year-old child has a $500 baseball bat, Ol' Dutch about fell out of the nosebleed section of the stands. Well maybe not as I was in a lawn chair, but you get my drift. This kid had all the right stuff, of course, even at ten years old while the mother had done without just so she could be well equipped. The poor woman admitted that she was still wearing the same bra she has had through two pandemics and three Presidents, but the kid was decked out like a major league player.  

The things we do for love, I guess. Grand #2 is not hurting in the equipment department either as Ol’ Dutch and Miss Trixie keep her supplied with bats and gloves and a batting cage and basketball goal and soccer equipment and horse-riding gear, too. And that's all fine as that is what Grandpas are for, I think.  

I did stop and think – a dangerous situation according to Miss Trixie – that I, too, am doing without.  

My entire closet is filled with shorts, shirts, and socks older than Grand #2. And I may look like hell warmed over at these events, but I fit in with the rest of the parents there and the fish really don't care what Ol’ Dutch looks like anyway. 

Kevin Kirkpatrick spends his days fishing, hunting, ATVing, hiking, or making people laugh. His email is Kevin@TroutRepublic.com. Additional news can be found at www.troutrepublic.com or on Twitter at TroutRepublic.