Category Archives: The Way Life Is

I’m with you, kid. Let’s go.


meeting Fani Willis, district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia

DA Willis was in Columbia this week for a fundraiser for her reelection campaign, and my friend Nekki got me a ticket to go with her to the event. I have the utmost admiration for Willis who has refused to be bullied by the Bully-ex-Chief of all bullies. The atmosphere at the fundraiser was upbeat, festive, and celebratory of not only our Georgia sister but also women in South Carolina who are incumbents in political offices and/or campaigning to serve. I needed a good dose of hope, and the people who surrounded me in that intimate gathering had kept hope alive.

A separate event the next day was much smaller, but no less intimate nor hopeful when Field Director Nicholaus Outen led South Carolina state senatorial candidate Francie Kleckley’s team of volunteers in an assembly line production of putting together the newly arrived yard signs followed by training us for our initial canvassing efforts in nearby neighborhoods. Time to put pedal to the metal.

“Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: ‘I’m with you, kid. Let’s go.'”

(Maya Angelou, American memoirist and poet)

Now is the time for all people of good will to come to the aid of their country. Yesterday is over and done, tomorrow is not promised, we only have today to be the change we long to see. I’m with you, kids. Let’s go.

Onward.

You Win Some, You Lose NONE! (Parade Halt for this year)


The Parade was a huge success according to Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenman with the largest crowds ever seen for any parade he could remember in the city. Estimates placed the number at more than 20,000 people who celebrated from where the Parade began on North Main Street to where it ended on the steps of the Statehouse two hours later.

The following photos were taken by Alex Hicks, Jr. for the Greenville News at the 2024 Gamecock National Championship Parade in Columbia on Sunday, April 14rh. so full credit to him for the images I wish I could have captured.

You Win Some, You Lose None

Gamecock All Tournament Team Guard Raven Johnson greets “fams”

crowds waiting for pep rally at Parade’s end

Coach Staley and her team salute throngs of well-wishers

from South Carolina statehouse steps

National Championship MVP Kamilla Cardoso counts to three championships

Coach Staley delivers heartfelt thanks, inspirational words

following 38-0 perfect season and NCAA Championship

Finally, if you are an American looking toward the November general elections with fear and trepidation, Alex Hicks, Jr. captured this sign during the parade:

********************

P.S. Our granddaughters were among the 20,000 at the Parade Sunday, and although they had an awesome time, a couple of disappointments couldn’t be erased.

I never saw Cocky at the parade, four-year-old Ella told me

two-year-old Molly said, I never got ice cream

(last two photos by Upstate Dawne)

2024 GAMECOCK WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PARADE!


Deputy Coroner Susan Moore-Cooke, huge Gamecock women’s basketball “fam,” seen waving aboard this clever float from the Richland County Coroner’s Office

(each R.I.P. headstone had a score for every post-season game including championship game with Iowa which the Gamecocks won 87-75)

Let’s go, Gamecocks!

hand in hand

we’ll march later for world peace, world hunger, equal justice, democracy —

but today we march for Coach Staley and her Gamecocks

granddaughters Molly and Ella mesmerized by parade

Nina, ice cream! ICE CREAM!

Spurs Up!

Gamecock Brian and Ella having fun waiting for the next float

But where did ice cream truck go?

Go Gamecocks!!

More to come on Parade…stay tuned.

don’t rain on my 2024 Gamecock Victory PARADE!


Sunday, April 14th. the city of Columbia welcomed thousands of University of South Carolina Gamecock women’s basketball fans to downtown Main Street for a two-hour parade that began at 2:00 o’clock under a bright blue sky and blazing sunshine with 90-degree temperatures to celebrate the third NCAA Championship under head coach Dawn Staley (2017, 2022, 2024). Coach Staley calls her Gamecock fans “Fams” because she has steadily built a culture of loyal followers in the community who have become family to her, her staff and the women’s basketball team during her historic sixteen-year career at South Carolina.

Our little band of “fams” had great seats in the shade thanks to positions staked out by the upstate duo of Pretty’s sister Darlene and Dawne who got up before daybreak Sunday morning to drive two hours, check into their room at the Sheraton and set up chairs on Main Street by 10 a.m. Pretty and I weren’t nearly so punctual but by the time we arrived downtown an hour later after a 15-minute drive from our home in West Columbia, parking places were scarce which added another twenty minutes of walking to meet them.

thanks to Darlene and Dawne (seated) for great spot on Main St

granddaughters Molly (2) and Ella (4) were shy when they arrived at 12:30…

…but soon got into the spirit of the day by playing on Main Street in front of us

Molly and Ella brought their parents Drew and Caroline along

to celebrate perfect 38-0 season on the road to the NCAA Championship

(Drew still recovering from ACL surgery, but wild crutches couldn’t keep him away)

Did this parade have actual floats, marching bands, marching Girl Scouts, Gamecock women’s basketball players current and alumni, sporty convertibles carrying occupants from politicians to princesses, pretend coffins from the coroner’s office, fire trucks, EMS vehicles, police cars, a Championship Trophy carried by Gamecock star player Kamilla Cardoso who was drafted third in the WNBA draft in New York City the next night, and even the great Coach Dawn Staley herself who stole the show as she always does? You betcha!

To be continued. Please stay tuned.

March Gladness


wishing our friends in cyberspace March Gladness!

particularly nine-day-old Penelope a/k/a Penny

Penny is the newest addition to our good friend Susan’s farm in Elgin – Susan loves her Gamecock women’s basketball team almost as much as she loves Penny.

Here’s to new life in the spring, renewed hope in a future that includes another national title for Coach Staley and her Gamecock women in the NCAA tournament starting today in Columbia!

Go Gamecocks!