2025: mayo
Image by Nick M.W. (WBN)
One life, with each other.
Shoutout to moms. Some would say you don’t get enough credit, but let’s face it, moms get most of the credit. As they should. They’ve earned it. Way to go, moms! How is your relationship with your mom? My mom loves her sons, but she could have been cooler. More chill. She’s only now learned to laugh at herself, but she’s still kind of a downer. Harsh? Perhaps. Who am I to criticize my mom? She did the best she could. I think my mom wishes she was more chill. Hindsight is a bitch, and I should be celebrating my mom for keeping us alive and healthy after my dad left her. She has supported her sons’ hobbies and has been a loving grandma to her grandkids.
The other mom in my life is my wife, and she gets a big shoutout in the month of moms. She endures living with me with grace and love. She is tender with our kids but also provides them strong guidance. She is goofy. She’s a fantastic teacher and a wonderful cook. She just absolutely rocks.
Changing of the Guard
This past NBA season, a lot of fuss was made about the Association’s declining TV ratings. Someone was stirring the pot, and many sports broadcasters and writers speculated as to what was causing the decline. Among the circle of Gen Xers and Millennials that I mingle with, the regular NBA fans watched less of the sport this season because they didn’t enjoy the style of play that is now pervasive in the league. As to whether this current style of NBA basketball is better or worse than a four-quarter slugfest that ends with a scintillating 81-75 final score, I prefer a high-scoring barnburner, but let’s give flowers to the NBA for what has been an entertaining playoff tournament. I was disappointed to see my Lakers end their run in the first round, but I was uplifted by the Knicks second round upset of the Boston Celtics. They might as well have not made the playoffs given that the defending champs couldn’t even come out of their conference. Losing Jayson Tatum didn’t help their chances, but they were on their heels before that happened. The Knicks surprise run to through Boston to get to the Eastern Conference Finals has been the highlight of these playoffs for me, but the rise of OKC and the Pacers still in the mix means that the 2025 title is going to be presented to a thirsty team. Without a horse in this race, I can enjoy an anxiety-free run to the finish. I can also spend time looking at what happened earlier in the playoffs up against where we’re at now, and see that the times are changing.
Firstly, the older stars are nearing the end, and the younger stars are carrying their teams to the next level. LeBron, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, were bounced in the first round. Steph was out in the next round with Jokic, Giannis, and Jayson Tatum. Kevin Durant and his Suns didn’t even make the playoffs. Instead, it’s SGA, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, and Jaylen Brunson. We are witnessing another changing of the guard in the NBA. With this change, a new trend is emerging, or perhaps an old way of doing things is returning. The sun is setting on the super team era of the NBA, and it has to be the direct result of the collective bargaining agreement. It is doing as intended and creating more parity in the league, and this is a good thing. Small market teams have a legitimate shot at competing with big market teams because of the financial limitations every team has. The tax apron tiers and salary caps and blah blah blah. It’s evening out the competition and making the game more exciting.
A lot of people complain about SGA’s style of play. I’ve heard the phrase “free throw merchant” tossed around, and there’s a legitimate case for that label because the dude flops a lot. But he’s also bringing the mid-range shot back en vouge. He won his first NBA MVP award this season on the strength of that fifteen footer. If he ends up an NBA champ and likely Finals MVP, you’ll see that mid-range shot getting put up across the league next season.
May Fair
In our post-pandemic world, May now means L.A. County Fair. The mandatory COVID cancellations gave the folks who run the fair a chance to reimagine it. Moving it from September to May is a big win for everyone involved—I’m talking about the animals, the vendors and fair staff, and the folks who attend. Temperatures out here cook in September, and it’s no fun for anyone in triple digit heat. It affected the experience, and the fair overall lost revenue. May Gray means cooler temperatures and more people throughout the day. There are also some prime holidays in May to schedule specific events around, like Cinco de Mayo and Memorial Day.
We made our annual trip Memorial Day weekend, and it was a perfect day. That reliable spring marine layer help the temperature in the high sixties until the sun finally broke through in the afternoon. I destroyed an elote, some carne asada tacos, a hot dog, and threw down half of an ice cream cookie sandwich. That thing was as big as a small plate. It’s a bit obscene to be so gluttonous, innit? Downright sinful. I atoned the next day with mild constipation.
Stubborn bowels aside, it was worth it to enjoy a lovely day with the family—our kiddos, our nieces, and my sister in-law, oh and the girls’ boyfriends. These little bastards are growing up so quickly. I have to capture every moment I can get with them and lock that memory in forever. Gotta make it fun, too. Never half ass or even dare to complain about going to a fair or Disneyland or a birthday party. Just shut up and do it and have fun or at least pretend like its fun. Make it Oscar-worthy.
Saturday Night Special
Yeah, I’m still doing this. There’s no purpose for it to exist, which is probably why no one bothers to watch it, but I have fun doing it. One day, it’ll mean something, damnit!
