Home Sweet Homecoming

If you were able to look at the most popular searches of Pete Chat, or what posts were most popular it is almost always the post I did about La Serna Homecoming in 2007. If you Google La Serna Homecoming I think it is the seventh thing that pops up. It got 41 hits in the last month even though it is a post that is four years old. It seems like I am not the only one who loves La Serna Homecoming.

As this year has been a bit of a homecoming for me, I have been planning for a while to go to La Serna Homecoming and enjoy seeing my Alma Mater play. I had a grand vision that my friends whould all don their Letterman jackets once again, and we would once again relive our fond memories  of yore. Well they all have kids now, and none seemed very excited to sit in the cold a cheer for a team on which they know exactly none of the players. So instead, I took my nieces and nephew, my cousin Bob, and my Pepperdine roommates to see Friday Night Lights, first hand.

 I absolutely love my Letterman, but I almost never wear it because it would be really lame to do so. The only time that it is appropriate is for homecoming or maybe a basketball game. So I busted it out and it still fits perfectly.

It was funny what the selling points were for the parties involved. Haydan, wanted to see my roommates, Bronte wanted to see the homecoming court, and Gavin wanted a drink. I promised to satisfy those desires, and they all came along. This was very brave because it had rained that day.

As usual I continued my claim as the world's best Uncle. We had a fun time, watching the game, eating popcorn and admiring the sights and sounds of the game. I was surprised how interested Haydan was in the football. She was asking me questions and showing interest in the game. I could not have been a prouder uncle. It surely helped that La Serna was playing very well and scoring a lot of points.

 

La Serna ended up winning the game 60-14, which was incredible. They beat Pioneer High School. The offense, defense and special teams all played great. There were a lot of fans there, and they cheered along.

As is tradition at La Serna, we had the Grand Marshal, Cheerleaders on the Fire Trucks, the Class Floats, and the crowning of the Homecoming Queen all at half time. This was a special year because it celebrated La Serna's 50th Anniversary. The Grand Marshal was Principal Locke. He was La Serna's first principal. They also recognized past Homecoming Queens, and the other current and former Principal's in attendance. It was very nice.

 While I was there I noticed this young man in attendance. You might not be able to tell from the picture but that is number 9, and he is a Water Polo player. I was actually a bit stunned (I'm not even exaggerating that much) that number 9 had not been retired. My best friend Jordan wore 9 when he played for La Serna. I thought I am going to go up to this kid and say, "Do you know who Jordan Walburger is?" I mean I was there when Jordan scored nine goals in a game, used his big toe to try to take another player's suit off, and generally dominate the Del Rio League. (He didn't win MVP, Ryan Barber got that after having a great season as the goalie). Jordan was All Area Player of the year, and a Junior All American. how dare this youngster wear the number 9. I made sure and texted this to Jordan and we agreed it would be devastating if the guy didn't know Jordan. That being said Jordan and practically all of my high school friends I still keep in touch with Thomas, Josh, Ryan, Darren, and Jordan Keitel ( the same ones who didn't come to the game) all played water polo, were ranked number one in CIF and were sort of cheated out of a championship. Last years La Serna team won CIF. I have never seen them play, but I am confident if somehow we could get the team from 98-99 to escape time and space to play last years team, my friends would have won.

Bronte really wanted to meet a princess, so when we saw this one in the stands we politely asked if we could have a picture with her. She was so nice, and Bronte was thrilled to have met a Princess. 

I can not emphasize enough how excited the kids were to meet my roommate Yi. They had never met let alone spoken to a Chinese man before. It did not take long for them to make good friends. I am pretty sure that Gavin was eating Yi's popcorn with minutes of meeting him. My roommates Yi, Jordan, and Luai, were like celebrities the kids. I wanted Yi who is from China and Luai who is from Saudi Arabia to experience some real typical Americana. I told them that many many people in the US would be spending their Friday evening doing the exact same thing we were, watching High School Football.

La Serna played so well that they played with a running clock throughout most of the 4th quarter. We stayed for the whole game and then rushed over to Ruby's for dinner.

My Cousin Alexander was spending the last month with us from Germany. He is very Americanized and answers as easily to his American name Bob, as he does to his real name.  I have never met another European who understands or enjoys American football like Bob does. He had a good time at the game, and took a lot of pictures.  As we were sitting around the table we had a great time telling stories, and just having fun. I thought to myself how amazing is this. We speak English, Swedish, German, Mandarin, French, and Arabic just at this little table, we came from all over the world and here we are at Ruby's at the Whittwood Mall.

 It was a fantastic evening with the five F's. Food, Friends, Football, Family, and Fun.