This photo is from the Alumni game in 2021. It was so fortunate for Jim that so very many of his teammates from 1974 decided to attend that year. He was in his element! And from the smiles on their faces, so were they!
Geez! October is already screaming past! Just as September did. When there is so much going on I find it hard to break down segments to write about.
I have written many things in my sparkly pink notebook, but none fit to share. One was a rant about a person I became a little pissed at just for being himself! One was a love letter to my grown children, but I believe I have posted enough about them by now to make even the most sentimental of you gag!
I write about the flora and fauna in my yard, but here again I note only business as usual. I did put the hummingbird feeder up and a few of the little darlings actually came! Then I quit seeing them because the bees found it! It is cleaned and back in the garage now.
I did have three new cardinals, twin females still downy and timid, and one male. Although he is quite dashing he has nothing of his father’s brilliance. That guy was shockingly red! Now there are just two. One of the females has sought refuge elsewhere.
I assume the foxes are still roaming the neighborhood. I don’t see as many as I once did. The fellow who passed through last week took his time in mine and my neighbor’s yards. Those huge crows have moved on so there were no raucous noises or sweeping wings to chase him away.
The young squirrels have not yet figured out the squirrel-proof birdfeeder as their predecessors did. I actually feel a little bad for them and unusually hopeful that they someday will. What’s wrong with me?
This past weekend marked the fourth time I was tasked to hand the Jim Cunningham Spirit Award Scholarship and plaque to a young rugger at the annual UNL Alumni rugby game. Actually, Vince did that. I really try to keep my composure, but I am not a public speaker. Vince is. Bill is. And I follow them. And they tell such good stories about my late husband and speak of him so warmly that I get choked up. And that gorgeous group of young ruggers are all listening so intently. So once again I eked out a few words of appreciation for what the game brought to our lives and backed away as the current coach described the enthusiasm this particular young recipient has for the game and his fellow ruggers. From the look of him he is a second row for sure.
The UNL Rugby alumni has given out $80,000 in scholarships over the past few years. Jimmy’s comes from the UNL Foundation, of course. The current alumni donate to their own foundation for some and there is a generous scholarship (two this year) from the parents of a young man who died during Covid. They gave their first scholarship in 2021. Heartbroken but proud they showed up for that game grieving openly. Yesterday they were smiling and chatting with his old teammates.
Healing takes time.
I am grateful the Old guys recognize Jim every year, but also care enough about the game they shared to be generous with the young men who are playing it now. Jim would have loved being a part of that as much as he would love still being in the limelight and a part of the festivities.
If you would like to be part of making it a little easier for these kids to enjoy their sport while getting their degree please think about donating as well. It would be so wonderful if Jim’s scholarship could grow into two! This is the link:
Jim Cunningham Rugby Spirit Scholarship Fund
