Where were we today? At the US Military Academy at West Point. This day was arranged (without consulting me) by Dad, John Antoinetti and Jim Gigante, the three roommates at Wesleyan in 1941). Jim is the one who transferred to West Point and was in the Army for the next 25 years. Dad has always wanted to see a West Point parade and go to a football game there. Jim got tickets for this day (Army and Holy Cross) and the arrangements included the wives. They drove to West Point from Alexandria, Virginia, and we and the Antoinettis met them there.
It was a beautiful autumn day – wonderful foliage. West Point is indeed a spectacular place. Rose Antoinetti cooked wonderful food for a tailgate lunch. Dad gathered the accoutrements: wine, cheese, fruit, etc. I went against my will, and was very unhappy to have to sit through a football game. The good part was what I mentioned: the weather, the setting and the nice people.
But there were 30,000 people there. It was a reunion weekend for the classes of 1981, 1976, 1971 and 1966. I had to wait in a line on the field where we parted the car for 35 minutes to use a portable toilet. I was chilled for the morning parade which lasted an hour and a half, because it was windy and hadn’t warmed up yet. And I detested the game! We were on the 50 yard line in the very top tier of the stands. I felt like I was in the Goodyear Blimp.
I managed to leave the game in the middle of the second quarter and returned in the middle of the fourth quarter, spending the time waiting in another line for 30 minutes to get a cup of coffee and then finding a sunny spot to sit in (on the periphery of this upper level of stands) and watch the people – especially the wives of the alums, many of whom looked like fashion models from 5th Avenue!