Two days.....two semi-finals.....two entirely different crowds at the videocasts

 The ONLY time I got to immerse myself in world football to a degree similar (but far less intense or of duration) was two weeks after Joanna was born in 1994 when the World Cup, for the first time ever but with far fewer teams competing than the 48 this year, took place in the good ole U.S. of A. with all the big  games  taking place at the same time as Joanna's late night/early morning bottle supplemental feeding......of course I volunteered for these feedings.  We bonded in an extraordinary way because of this.....and I saw a whole lot of football!

After three years I can safely say that I survived the worst part of retirement:  developing the necessary new routines to replace approximately 60 years of work routines that have suddenly ceased.  This is a frightening experience that far more individuals, husbands and wives do not 'survive'.  Yet it has got to be done to prevent brain rot and a living death.  Have I survived?  Who truly knows...............

But on day one, the very first match, I befriended an immigrant-American, world football fan, who just happened to be the Engineer at St Johns Hospital, responsible for the 18' x 9' hi-def video in the Community Room adjoining the Cafeteria......and he arranged for si many, many games that I could see that suddenly, with the flexibility of retirement hours and a great tv across the street with good, reasonably-priced food  even cheaper with senior citizens discount......and with Katherine's approval, I immersed myself.  

There's the consolation game between France and England on Saturday........I'll be there.........and on Sunday, it'll be Spain - Argentina for the World Cup.......we'll obviously be across the street as well.....obviously!  

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