I Have Crossed Over to the Dark Side

Go down Columbus Avenue and make a right onto Malcolm X Boulevard. You can get anything you want on Malcolm X Boulevard (You could sing that last sentence to the tune of Alice's Restaurant--but that's not the point). Right across from the Post Office sits (drum roll please) the Social Security Office. Yup, I am a member of the group which promises to bankrupt the system as long as we get ours first.

The good news is that I got there early (5 minutes after opening) and took a number just like at my supermarket deli. I got number 41 which means in 5 minutes, 40 people were ahead of me. They were on 18 and it took an hour to get to 41. The good news is that all the workers were nice and pleasant once you reached them. The bad news is that there were just 3 of them, they yakked to each other and to other unseen people, and the security guard's main job (aside from completing his crossword puzzle and chatting with his friends ) was to press the buzzer for the bathroom. I had a 5 minute conversation with the first person who told me I needed to see a second person but that I was first in line. 45 minutes later, I got to see the second person. 45 minutes after that I was done. Oh, by the way, I was the only white person amidst a room full of Africans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans. All of whom seemed like they just finished a pack of cigarettes outside and brought the smell inside with them. Kids of course--especially young ones. I felt as if I was dropped back into a Welfare Office in the 60's. I don't know what I was thinking but the magazine I brought to read was Hadassah--a therapist or someone more socially astute than me would have a field day with that choice.

Way back in those same 60's, Hialeah Race Track, was the jewel of thoroughbred racing in South Florida. The home of winter racing and a bazillion flamingos. I never had a car in high school but some of my friends did. We somehow ended up in a high school with shifts with Seniors starting at 7:15 and Juniors at 8:15. which meant we got out fairly early. The friends with the cars took off to Hialeah (usually) and Tropical Park (less usually). You could get in for free for the last few races and make a few very small bets. That's when I fell for horse racing. Hialeah eventually closed due to competition over racing dates and Gulfstream up there in Broward County ultimately became the big cheese of tracks. But within the last month Hialeah reopened not as a thoroughbred track but as a quarterhorse track--kind of a Jack in the Box compared to a Burger King. But it is open nonetheless--I have yet to see a flamingo.

Obama's Afghan speech was pretty predictable and predictably made a lot of people angry. My feeling is that it was to be expected and if he wants to be re elected something will happen in 2011. I'm not sure I agree with the decision but none of us should have been surprised.

SPORTS TALK COMING UP

Speaking of South Florida, Mr. Brady and the boys have a big one down in Miamah this weekend. I think they can run the table and win all 5 but they have been so inconsistent, I worry. Of interest to a few of us is that they are tearing down the Orange Bowl and the University is building a stadium on their campus in Coral Gables. The site of the Orange Bowl will be used for a new baseball only stadium for the Marlins. I sold programs (as I got older and smarter) and initially soda (when I was younger and dumber) at the Orange bowl. A group of us including my friend Charles concocted many plans to steal a football during warm ups--never worked but it was a visionary plan.

DONE WITH SPORTS

Hope no one over ate and all of you enjoyed the holiday.

Sayonara