There are a total of eight of us, five from the dusty little town of Mulberry. We've all known and tolerated each other pretty much since birth. The other three hailed from far more exotic places such as New York (Steve), North Carolina (John) and South Florida (Jay). As I mentioned previously, my son Ben usually joins us for these annual events and this year we were happy to have Jay with us for the first time along with his son Josh.
We all met while living in the same apartment complex, Landmark Apartments which I believe has since and deservedly so been condemned. Jay reminded us that our rent for a two bedroom apartment at that time and location was a grand total of $210 a month. We way over paid for the quality of the apartment. The five Mulberry boys lived in one apartment (Club 138) while the other guys were scattered around the complex.
I'm pretty sure that initially the Mulberry boys with our bizarre stories of growing up where we did were intriguing to these guys, kinda like a bad car wreck, where you don't want to look but you really can't help yourself. We shared some great times together and in spite of ourselves we all managed to graduate and become semi-productive members of society.
After graduation we all went our separate ways but stayed in touch occasionally. Every few years some of us would get together and go to a football game. It was always a blast as we would relive stories from the past which would become more exaggerated every time they were told. About 10 years ago I think we looked around and realized that this was really fun and that we weren't getting any younger so we decided to make it an annual event. It's morphed into quite an extravaganza where we go to an away game one year and a game in Gainesville the next year.
The stories get retold year after year and only get more exaggerated. One thing I have noticed is that we are getting much more efficient at telling them. In the past we would sometimes be up until around 2-3 in the morning sitting around talking. These days we're lucky if we make it until 11:00. Surely this isn't a sign that we're aging?
At some point during the conversation we will pause to give thanks that (1) the academic requirements to get into the University of Florida were not as high back in our day as they are now. I'm not sure how many of us would have been admitted, but I can flat out guarantee that the admissions office would have been quite amused by my high school and junior college transcript. Kim pointed out pretty accurately that back in our day pretty much the only thing you needed to be admitted was a high school diploma and a check. and (2) that cell phones with recording devices and social media did not exist. We can deny everything!
At the end of the 3rd quarter of all football games there is a great tradition of everyone standing, locking arms together while swaying and singing "We are the Boys from old Florida". It's one of the great traditions of a great university and it has extra special meaning when I'm standing, singing and swaying with these guys!
In all kinds of weather...................
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| The Gator Brotherhood! Left to Right: Drew Eason (Mulberry), Steve Liverani (NY), Jay Schuppener (South FL), Kim Duke (Mulberry), Scott Stewart (Mulberry), Steve Moody (Mulberry), Me, John Leighton (NC) |
