Hi Neighbor,
So Summer 2026… the Fourth of July, BBQ(s), the beach, baseball and this year, the World Cup soccer tournament descended on our shores. I can’t say I’m an avid sports fan generally as I don’t have the patience to sit and watch a game for hours. However give me a tie score and two minutes left in a game, any game, of any sport and I’ll be jumping up and down on the couch, yelling like a maniac. I guess I’m more of a cut-to-the-chase, fast forward kind of fan. I prefer teams that have snappy, colorful outfits but if the Eagles make the play-offs, I will put my aesthetic distaste of algae green aside for the duration. Sorry diehards, what can I say? I’m a Philly transplant and Eagle green hasn’t yet grown on me after thirty-five years but there’s still hope.
Due to the novelty and buzz about the World Cup championship I did catch parts of a few matches though I don’t get the time on the clock stuff and I’m not sure any of us do. Visually I find soccer easier on the eyes, less of a mess on the field as least compared with football. But what I really enjoyed this summer was watching and hearing the human-interest stories on the news. The cameras, videotaping the foreign soccer players roaming the streets of Philadelphia during their free time. Going into Reading Market, wanting to try “(H)amish” food, being blown away by the fact the Wawa has ten, count ‘em ten flavors of coffee. Blueberry? Who knew? they said. Potato chips? Get out town. Dill, salt and vinegar, cheddar, barbequed, kettle? No way, Bro, they said gob smacked. The one awesomeness of our American bounty cited as numero uno by the players was air conditioning. No surprise there.
It was both funny and a joy to see hear such exuberant approbation from our foreign visitors. A reminder of and a metaphor for all the choices we enjoy here. Blueberry coffee and much, much, much more.
Be well and be kind.
Susan
