CONVERSATION THREE

 You: Are you no longer pontificating about local politics?

Me: When does it end? I busted my ass covering the county, college, school board and port elections. And I wasn't reticent about opining about my support for Biden and my odium for Trump. I will offer my two cents worth on our politicians because there is a financial incentive in maintaining the blog and I can't suffer certain fools, but I'm on empty these days. We have Thanksgiving in two days and the Christmas season throughout December. Locally, I'm cooked. Nationally, there is the challenge of adding your voice to the chorus that Trump exit and Biden enter.

You: But you're the Voice of Brownsville.

Me: Hardly. I'm little more than part of the cacophony. The ranting and raving never cease just like yet another controversy following yet another crisis never ceases. 

You: How long have you been covering Brownsville?

Me: How long has Brownsville been covering me would be a more accurate questions. I became sports editor at The Brownsville Herald in 1977 and I've been sitting in my 50-yard-line seat for 43 years. Literally. Yesterday I traveled with Claudia to watch our son play against Weslaco East. Once you embark on a certain path in life, you are condemned like a prisoner walking to the gallows to complete your death sentence. I have a constant lament. Over beers one afternoon in Mexico a gentleman informed me that my future might be awaiting me in Brownsville. I took his advice, but couldn't he have told me that my future was awaiting me in Austin or New York City or Miami!

You: How did your son's team do?

Me: It was a 49-0 shellacking, which over my four decades here has not been that uncommon of an experience for Brownsville teams where losing is a football tradition. It has not been that uncommon of an occurrence for Brownsville teams to be behind 49-0 at half.

You: How did your son do?

Me: He caught five passes. Presently, there is no greater joy in my life than watching him play football. As a sophomore he is Veterans Memorial starting end and he plays with an incredible passion. Sports has been the one constant in my life. I have these delusions that I could be a standout tennis player, but at a minimum there are few pleasures that compare to stroking a ball on our windless, temperate autumn evenings.

You: What is your greatest disappointment about Brownsville? You've raised a half-dozen children here. A hip cat like yourself wouldn't torture himself rotting away in a self-imposed prison. You obviously have a deep love for our border town.

Me: Our leadership undermines us. Excluding their misguided calling as politicians because most of them are decent individuals, you couldn't ask for a kinder or more generous people than our fellow citizens. It is the reason I've remained here. Hell, I've married three of them and the only complaint I have about them is that they didn't have better sense in choosing a husband. I do have some strengths, but I have more than my share of terrible weaknesses.  

You: Why don't you run for mayor and lead us to the Promised Land?

Me: I will be 70 in a month. I ran for mayor when I was 32. Unlike my ex-spouses, the voters had the good sense to reject me by an overwhelming margin.

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