Why am I pacing like an expectant father? Why do I wake up suddenly at night, look around to assure myself that our two “daughters” are safely ensconced in their beds?
Let me explain, and there’s much to explain:
By now, several of you may have read my Facebook post that explains my family’s hosting of two exchange students for the school year. They’re part of the AFS Intercultural Program that places students from other countries with American households.
Ana, a high school freshman from Madrid, Spain, and Phaedra, a senior from Belgium, will fly in to Albuquerque this week to become students at West Las Vegas High School.
And we’re told we’re the only family in Las Vegas this year to be hosting children through this program. Our family has only sons, grown sons; the closest beings in age and gender are our granddaughters, Carly and Celina, 15 and 13. They live next door and say they’ll enjoy showing Ana and Phaedra around.
But yet . . . but yet, I’m practically having anxiety attacks. I’ve dreamed about the coming visit, ever since a volunteer with AFS persuaded us to accept not just one but two students. Things happened rapidly, and I suspect there’ll be lots of catching up, as the West schools have been in session for several days. We visited Tom Trujillo (no relation), West’s dean of students, who assured us things were in place for the girls’ enrollment.
But still I’m not assured. Like a fawning new dad (at my age I ought to say “grandfather”), I want to do things the exchange student handbook might even advise against: Don’t spoil them; don’t try to acquaint them with all of western civilization; don’t overschedule them; don’t try to be their Santa Claus; don’t force them to go to church.
We’ve already done one thing the handbook might or might not recommend: We’ve asked the prospective arrivals to call Bonnie “Bon-Bon” and me “Pompah,” just like our own five grandchildren.
In fact, as an already-doting “father” to the girls across the Atlantic, I often recall the married couple who once gave this answer to an inquisitive reporter: “We have four children; two of them are natural and two are adopted. But we don’t remember which is which.”
And naturally, I dream of having all of Las Vegas welcome the girls, whom Ana’s father refers to as our “hija-nietas,” which I assume means they’ll be our grandchildren for several months. The “daughter-grand-daughter” label has a nice ring to it. But as I appeal to Las Vegans to agree that our new arrivals are the cutest, brightest and friendliest, I also realize I might be trying too hard.
The girls are not here to restore my dreams of their becoming the daughters we never had; they’ll be here to learn the American experience. They’ll be here to get an education far away from their homes and to learn about this part of the world.
They’re not coming here so I can parade them around. But the temptation to do so remains.
This assuredly will not be the last word on this topic. But I’m still a wee bit nervous.
And frightened.
• • •
There’s a Biblical passage about how “it rains on the rich and poor alike.” I wonder if that statement was on the mind of a New England Patriots fan that wrote a letter to the editor of the Albuquerque Journal defending “Deflategate.”
Let me explain: New England’s quarterback, Tom Brady, was suspended for the first four games of this season for using under-inflated footballs. The under-inflation gives the pigskin a nice, soft, fluffy feel, making it much easier to catch, run with and throw. Meanwhile, the letter-writer fan argued that a soft, flabby football might also benefit someone who intercepts one of Brady’s passes.
Sorry, but that bit of logic just isn’t logical. Brady throws to his own receivers; any football caught by the opponents is purely coincidental. How many errant throws does Brady make in a game anyway?
Well, the latest chapter in Deflategate shows that a judge disagreed with the NFL commissioner’s sanctions and reinstated the quarterback — so far. My contention is that Brady, in collusion with some equipment personnel, knew of the deflated footballs his team used.
Brady’s simply too experienced a quarterback to have been unaware of the spongy feel to the footballs.
Of course, many Patriots fans will see deflategate as simply another advantage the Boston team used in order to win. Nothing wrong with that, huh?
Yes there is! With so many millions of fans aware of deflategate, it’s a poor example to be setting. Will colleges and even high schools do their own kinds of “tweaks” on the field or with the ball to gain an advantage?
It’s true that the many millionaires in the National Football League have forgotten that football’s a game. It’s become a big business, and any compunction they might experience by cheating evaporates in the players’ quest for more victories — and more money.
One of my Facebook friends, Michael Tenorio, a long-time teacher for West schools, says it well in his post:
“As a middle school teacher I teach my subject (science). In the process, I teach ethics, morals and values. I also teach about honesty. So it is that I am really disappointed in the New England Patriots organization.
“I’m a huge fan of football at all levels and a former football coach and assistant coach. This whole deflategate and other scandals make me wonder where are we headed with athletics when our role models are cheats.”
• • •
Kim Davis, the Rowan County (Ky.) Clerk who refused to sell marriage licenses to same-sex couples, citing “God’s authority,” has been jailed for contempt of court.
Hmm. Why do I have the strange feeling that her jail time will soon transform her into a martyr who will write a book about it and become very wealthy?