We Are FAM-I-LY

Last weekend was Dad's Day at O.U. The 2007, University of Oklahoma, politically correct term is "Family Day" and as always President David and crew are right on top of culturally sensitive issues like, what to put on the souvenir T-Shirt.

Understand, my husband and I have, as of Saturday, attended 12 of these weekends. Add the Mom's Day (forgive me,, Parent Day) festivities in the spring and we're already up to 24. Oh, and factor in the last two years that our youngest still has ahead of him and we're closing in at 28 oh say, Legal Guardian weekends.

These weekends usually consist of some sort of pre-game buffet at the fraternity or sorority house with the Parent's Meeting directly after lunch. There you pay Parent Club dues, contribute to the "house" project of the semester and get lots of information on one endowment fund or another. At the sorority house, local retailers set up co-ed focused merchandise all over the downstairs, so you don't even have to get in the car to go shopping. So convenient! We pose for yet another Party Pic. And sure as shooting, one of our group always has eyes shut tight and another has mouth wide-open. And there's the group photo on the lawn, Dad (sorry O.U. family member #1) and one child or another is precariously balanced on bleachers 10 feet high, as the famous Norman wind rattles the scaffolding.

Since we have two in school, my husband was expected at two different places. His youthful spirit was willing but his aging knees were not quite up to sprinting between houses. The problem was solved as he jumped behind Tom and whooshed off on Tom's zippy blue scooter. There were several startled expressions from more reserved parents as Father and son roared up to the Chi-Omega House but after 12 solid years of Wagner's in Norman, our family mantra is, Whatever Works!

I usually schlep over with goodies from home. "Mom, would you bring a pound cake?" "Hey Mama, all the guys are whining for cheese dip and Brownie Sheet Cake." "Could you bring some My Place chopped beef....oh and some Butterscotch Haystack thingys." "Dad, would you drive through the Charlie's in Shawnee and pick up a gazillion piece Nugget box?"

It's the same on campuses all over the United States. Parents in full school color regalia, grinning from ear to ear, wallets wide open and hearts bursting with pride. This year was particularly special for us. Catherine is a senior, so this was her last Dad's Day. Secondly, it was truly a Family Weekend as all our group was together. Warren and I traveled over with our married daughter's family in their new van. My wisecracking son-in-law did not fail to observe that "Grandma" was way back in the third seat, watching Barney on DVD and sharing Goldfish with three year old Annebelle. Hey, at least I'm not knitting and slobbering on myself.

Ward, (our second born, out of OU, gainfully employed son) came from OKC with his ever patient girlfriend. She is a trooper. Ally comes from a small family. Thrown in with our crew, the first hour or so she usually has a rather startled expression. The first six months or so you might have likened it to sheer terror. Note: large and loud families take some getting used to.

So we were all there. It was a grand time. After the official visits, we migrated to friend Bess's house for more good food and fellowship. Nothing better than sitting at Flood and Lindsey, watching Sooner fans arrive all afternoon. Cath and I jumped on the scooter to buzz the campus. She indicated that per my directions, she had never broken more rules as we zipped across the South Oval and met tailgating friends. Even got to watch the Baylor buses come in. Catherine and I gave a friendly wave as the team passed. We were a bit aghast when one less sportsmanlike Sooner Fan did not use their whole hand to salute the opposition.

The afternoon progressed and it was time to head for the stadium. Some did. Some didn't. It was just too nice being together. It was Baylor for heaven's sake. We did not make eye contact with the family diehards as they headed for the game and the traitors headed for Catherine's house and the fire-pit. The game was on the TV and from her cinder block patio, we could hear the announcer and see the fireworks. It's not that we weren't Sooner fans. It's just that there was lots of catching up to do.

It was a grand weekend. There is nothing more lovely than fall in a college town. The leaves were absolutely glorious. The autumn light made them glow in the sun. There were pumpkins and mums on every porch. It smelled like fall. Sort of that crispy clean, orangey-red, mind cleansing smell. It sounded like fall. The crunch of leaves and acorns as we walked and car horns blaring Boomer Sooner as they passed us. It tasted like fall. Bar B Que and Pumpkin Bars and spicy Virgin Mary's with Lawry's around the rim.

Combine picture perfect surroundings with the excitement and high spirits of a Game Day. Add in great food and old friends. Insert one goofy but lovely family. Mix it all up. What do you get? A slam dunk, making memories, all around marvelous Saturday - in Norman, Oklahoma U.S.A.