You Just Never Know...

Like I have said so many times before, you just never know what a day holds in store for you. On this day, the 19th of November, 2008 the 22nd birthday of my only stepdaughter, I found myself in downtown Pittsburgh, PA walking up 4th street to a brand new bank known as TriState Capital bank. Just before I walked into the door, I get a call from my daughter Carie telling me she thinks this is it......my grandson is about to be born. My jaw dropped and all I could think to myself is that somehow, I need to get home. Carie wasn't sure so she told me she would confirm later but the confirmation I received was actually one of a false alarm. I had a sigh of releief inside because I really want to be there when she gives birth to this my 2nd grandchild. The day was rather normal after that event. I enjoyed calling Katie to tell her just how close it came to Carie having her new baby on Katie's birthday! At the end of the day, I wandered down to the Hilton hotel bar only to meet several Pittsburgh Steelers foootball fans all gathered in excitement for the game Thursday night (my hotel is across the street from Hienz Field and the Steelers stay here before every home game). The NFL network trucks are parked all around Hienz Field which I can clearly see from my 23rd floor hotel room. The team at this time is all hunkered down on floor 9 (which nobody can get to) as they have completed their pre-game meetings on the concierge level of my hotel. The fans were everywhere and most of them giddy having got autographs from their favorite people. I met Jennifer at the bar who couldn't even talk she was so excited because she had just got the autograph of owner Dan Rooney and several other players on her Steelers hat. She felt bad once I told her that the hat would be much more valuable if only Dan Rooney had signed it! She had the autograph of Hienz Ward (who normally never signs anything) as well as other Steeler players she could not identify. Then.....she sees a familiar face and calls "JACK" over to join our converstion. I shake Jack's hand, say hello, and feel on his hand the Superbowl Ring of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2005-2006 season. Jack Kearny I learn is the head of Steelers security for the entire team and after chatting a bit, he said he had to go and do the bed check on floor 9 for the entire team. Before Jack walked away, another woman next to me takes a picture of the ring and emails it to me on her I-Phone. It was a sureal experience as all I could think of is my brother Bob and how much he loves the Pittsburgh Steelers. To think I was in the midst of this craziness was unusual, sureal, and inspirational. I had to tell the story and no better way than the blog. Jack said so long, and headed up stairs. Just for fun I pressed floor 9 on my way back to my room but it blinked at me as if to say, no freaken way dude. I headed back to my room to jot this down because times like these (like blog entries), are just few and far between. My good friend Bill Monsour is combing the town to see if he can get tickets for the game for he and I tomorrow night. The Steelers are 11 point favorites over the Bengals but most importantly, big Ben is my fantasy football quarterback. If he doesn't score me some points tomorrow, I just may have to let him know what I think. If I do get into the game, I will take a picture for you Bob, cause times like this don't come often. Who would have thought that a superbowl ring would actually be awarded to the head of security for a football team? Then again., who would have thought that my grandson would wait until today, to tease me regarding his entry into this world. Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know just what you are going to get. What a day. To Bill M. my friend, I hope you get those tickets. To Katie G., happy birthday dear, I wish I was home to celebrate it with you! To brother Bob, I wish you were here to meet Jack Kearny because nobody would have enjoyed it more than you. To my dear daughter Carie, I love you very much, and I wonder if the events of the day have anything to do with your son, my grandson, about to be born, playing one day....for one of the greatest football teams in the history of the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers!