Cleaning Up After The Party
I hate dishes. Not that I’d be able to survive more than a day without any dishes. But I harbor a disdain for dishes that makes a potter cringe. I should clarify, though. I am ambivalent about clean dishes. It’s the dirty ones I hate. That being said, the process after Sunday’s dinner party was littered with dishes, and I was in charge of the cleanup. Steamer pot (for steamed clams), 87 wine glasses (only three people drank wine, but it seems as if they needed a new glass for each sip), assorted other eating implements after a night of clams, corn, potatoes, and drinks.
READ MORE: Dear Diary: Today We Won by Jeff Cutler
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I probably could have said we hosted a clambake, but it was sans lobster and a few other items typically included in a traditional clambake. People were pleased, and everyone was merry.
I’m sharing this story as a parallel to the tiny party that took place May 25 and 26 in Liverpool, England.
AMERICAN SCOUSER TAKES ANFIELD
That party, we are aware, is still going on in hearts and minds. And it’s pervading the thoughts and dreams of the entire LFC side. It’s an indicator that we’ve summited a mountain and are the champions.
That was then (championship weekend on the final day of the season), and this is now. The hangover-stricken still have smiles plastered on their faces as they emerge from the red smoke-bomb haze.
Yet in the same way that we’ve experienced the top, it’s essentially taken away from us in 48 hours. It’s the truth. Liverpool will be lauded with praise and talked about all season long in 25-26…but it’s done, over, kaput, finished and whatever label connotes ‘complete’.
We will wear our kit and wave our scarves and sneer at most of the teams below us – Man City and Man U the most. For us, the celebration will be extended a lot and we’ll relish it.
But for the supporters of other clubs, the staff and management of the pub, coworkers, loved ones, maybe even our children, it is DONE. So let’s move on.
Sympathy
Maybe I’m looking for sympathy more than empathy because today I woke up with a horrible summer cold. It may have come on because, like my LFC brethren, I’ve been on a league-winning high for a couple of weeks. All that preparation, anticipation, and nervous energy was likely replaced with a run-down immune system.
Fortunately, I guessed correctly and planned for this by telling the American Scouser editors that I’d be a little less punctual with this column. Unfortunately, in my weakened state, a lot of this article seemed like gibberish on the first pass, so I yelled at the cat and started anew.
Insert your sympathy or empathy for me here. Thanks. Let’s continue…
Curiosity – The Season’s Done, I Wonder What’s Next
Maybe the people who hang around with EPL players get to see the real picture. Perhaps after the long season and the huge win, players might want to give football the silent treatment for a few months.
I wonder if that’s a good idea. Now that we’re at the top, and hopefully sanctions kick Man City down the table next year, we still have a bunch of teams gunning for us. Coincidentally, Arsenal is close to the top.
I wonder if Aston Villa will recompose itself and make more serious strides.
I wonder if TAA will be able to move forward effectively after the drawn-out speculation season of his status. Sure, he was more emotional than most at the celebration, and I wonder if it’s because he didn’t allow himself to think about what was to come after the season.
I wonder if the happy trend of calling more dives will continue. Even when it’s called on Grav or others, I still support it. Something has to stop people from keeling over in the box every single time…they can’t all be fouls.
I wonder what ball designs are coming for 25-26. As discussed previously, I play pick-up soccer and I’m not exceptional. What I am exceptional at is boosting the bottom line of Select and Nike, as I now have 11 soccer balls and sports science tells me I can only kick one at a time. Allow me to tell you, I LOVE THE HIGH-VISIBILITY BALL!!
SHOP THE AMERICAN SCOUSER COLLECTION TODAY
I wonder about my upcoming trip to Anfield and beyond. We head over this summer right after the start of the season, and I’m on pins and needles. Especially until June 18 or so when the schedules are released. Ultimately, if our itinerary (being crafted NOW) doesn’t match up geographically with LFC at home, we might be trekking across the UK to see Liverpool away.
I wonder about the climate. Sure, there were snowy matches and rainy matches this year, like every year. Though this year, I seem to recall worse weather than in past seasons. Will the sport get to the point where it can only be played from September to December and from March to June? Too hot and too cold are enemies of the beautiful game.
I wonder how the matches in the United States are going to be this summer. I’m honestly glad Liverpool isn’t on that dog and pony show. At this moment, I’d rather be around English fans than a bunch of boorish Americans. It also helps ensure that our players are not enduring excessive travel and possible injury.
I wonder when the high will subside. I said above that it’s over. And I actually meant to write, “It’s over, deal with it.” But all the banging on the keyboard has me realizing, with a tear in both eyes, that we had a magical time watching LFC this year. I wonder if we capture the title again, will it be as special?
Potato People
Recently, a misguided friend of mine likened humans to potatoes. He said people are lumpy and resilient like potatoes. We can bear a lot of bad stuff and still smile.
I prefer that my people, my LFC supporter friends, my family, and so many others are happy and resilient. I hope they are not overly lumpy, unless that’s a choice. And I really want the people around me to care about people as much as we care about Liverpool Football Club.
Red Solo Cup
We are the RED solo cup of celebration. We’re at the top and we vanquished all comers (except Forest). What an accomplishment; what a season, what a team! Cherish this one, it’s so special.
And when the party wraps up in a few weeks, plastic cups on the floor and leftovers in the fridge, you’ll be able to say you witnessed history… in fact, we all were a part of the party.
#YNWA