The scene earlier this week at Cheaha, Alabama’s highest point. Today, depending on where you were, it was mild and clear or mild and overcast with the occasional shower. Cheaha, which will likely be closed for several days for cleanup, got up to 58 today and had sunny skies, with rain later.
All of this is how you know that spring is about to make her entrance. When nothing makes sense it all clicks into comprehension, meteorologically speaking.
This morning I had a BLT for breakfast. Later I swam 2,850 yards — and some of it wasn’t bad. And I did some other things, too.
We went to the gym meet this evening:
Auburn hosted fifth-ranked Alabama, a team whom they’ve never beaten in the history of gymnastics. But they’re getting really, really close. By the time the number 12 Tigers were on the beam they were only a few hundredths of a point behind with the floor still to go. It was apparent that it would come down to either a Bama stumble on the beam or the last routine on the floor for Auburn.
The fourth rotation came along. Bama held a slim, but sure lead. Auburn was still in striking distance. We were still in an anything-could-happen atmosphere.
And hope springs eternal, for the numbers are good and Auburn’s tiny powerhouse Bri Guy is up to anchor the floor routine and close the meet. And on her first tumbling pass Guy stumbled out of her leap and then fell harsh and hard to the ground. There were a scary few moments:
They put her in an air cast, sat her on a gurney and wheeled her out of the Arena. The crowd chanted “We love Bri! We love Bri!” and she flashed that adorable, big smile she has and waved to everyone as Alabama’s gymnasts and Auburn’s looked on. Later they would pray together, stunned by the scary moment that could have been any of them.
(Update: She reportedly tore both of her Achilles’. One apparently on the way up and perhaps the other on the way down. Despite all of that she narrowly avoided landing on her neck and head. Sadly, her junior season is done.)
Auburn lost, but posted their second highest score in the history of the program. They’re getting closer all the time.
And then, later tonight we laughed with a friend at the local barbecue joint. We made a new friend there, too. And then they kicked us out because they all wanted to go home.
It was a fine day.
