‘HAL’ built our vacation itinerary

Historic Santa Fe cathedral (photo provided by ChatGPT)

One of my favorite things about taking a vacation is planning and researching the destination. We’re headed to Santa Fe in a couple of weeks, a place we’ve never visited.

So I’ve been all over the city of SantaFe.org ‘plan your trip’ website, as well as taking suggestions on things to do and places to eat from folks who’ve been there.

Our friend Linda Lynn gave us some great tips on restaurants to try and favorite museums to visit, as well as stops along the way between OKC and Santa Fe.

She gave me museum ideas, areas to visit and some inviting restaurants such as Tomasita’s and The Shed. I’ve been all over their websites since Linda provided the tips. My mouth is watering in anticipation.

And since AI seems to be carving out a prominent place in our lives, whether we welcome it or not, I’ve asked my virtual assistant I’ll call HAL to give me a two-day itinerary for visiting Santa Fe. Our party will be composed of two adults and a 7-year old.

I was pleasantly surprised by the detailed agenda, complete with photos, that my AI friend built for me in less than 30 seconds.

So, I thought I would share  the itinerary HAL provided. Our new AI overlords may be useful after all, if they don’t annihilate all of us first. (Just kidding HAL! maybe)

I welcome your suggestions on other Santa Fe locales to visit, as well.

Here’s the Santa Fe agenda ChatGPT built for me.:

“Santa Fe is a great destination with a 7-year-old because it mixes history, outdoor activities, art, and some surprisingly kid-friendly attractions. Here’s a balanced 2-day itinerary that won’t feel rushed.’

Downtown Santa Fe (photo provided by ChatGPT)

Day 1: Historic Santa Fe & Family Fun

8:00 AM – Breakfast

Try a local favorite such as Tia Sophia’s for New Mexican breakfast dishes and pancakes for the youngster.

9:30 AM – Explore the Santa Fe Plaza

Visit Santa Fe Plaza, the heart of the city. Kids enjoy the open space, street musicians, and shops.

10:30 AM – Cathedral & Loretto Chapel

Walk to:
– Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
– Loretto Chapel
The “miraculous staircase” at Loretto Chapel is often fascinating to children.

Noon – Lunch

Grab casual lunch near the Plaza.

1:30 PM – New Mexico History Museum

Visit New Mexico History Museum. The exhibits on Native American and Spanish history are engaging and interactive.

3:00 PM – Railyard District

Head to Santa Fe Railyard and nearby park areas where kids can run around while adults browse shops.

5:30 PM – Dinner

Enjoy an early dinner at Tomasita’s, known for classic New Mexican cuisine.

Evening

Return to the Plaza area for an evening stroll. The cooler temperatures and illuminated adobe buildings create a wonderful atmosphere.

Day 2: Meow Wolf & Mountain Scenery

Meow Wolf house (photo provided by ChatGPT)


8:00 AM – Breakfast

9:00 AM – Meow Wolf

Spend the morning at Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return.
This is often the highlight for children and many adults. Expect colorful rooms, secret passages, interactive exhibits, and lots of exploration. Allow 2–3 hours.

Noon – Lunch

1:30 PM – Santa Fe Children’s Museum

Visit Santa Fe Children’s Museum. It’s geared toward younger children and provides hands-on activities.

3:30 PM – Scenic Mountain Drive

Drive up into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains toward Hyde Memorial State Park. Even a short walk offers cooler temperatures, beautiful views, and a chance for the child to burn off energy.

Mountain scenery near Santa Fe (photo provided by ChatGPT)

6:00 PM – Farewell Dinner

Consider dinner at The Shed or another local New Mexican restaurant.
—

If your child loves trains, animals, or science…

You could substitute one activity with:
– Santa Fe Children’s Museum
– Museum of International Folk Art (huge toy and miniature collections)
– Randall Davey Audubon Center (easy nature walks and wildlife)
For a first-time 2-day visit with a 7-year-old, I’d make Meow Wolf, Santa Fe Plaza, and a mountain drive to Hyde Memorial State Park the three must-do experiences. They provide the best mix of Santa Fe’s unique culture, scenery, and family fun.’

So, thanks Linda, our actual human friend, and HAL.  We looking forward to the trip.

 

 

The surprising decline of downtown in ‘Big D’

American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas


In case you haven’t been scoring at home, the city of Dallas is reeling from some pretty big blows to its self-image. Big D’s downtown is losing the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, the NHL’s Dallas Stars, AT&T’s corporate headquarters, as well as Comerica bank and the iconic Neiman Marcus store.

Whew!

That’s a huge hit, even for a city as big as Dallas, with 1.3 million residents and a DFW metro area population of more than 8 million people.

Here’s what has gone down:

First, AT&T announced it was moving its corporate headquarters out of downtown Dallas and relocating to the northern suburb of Plano. Plano! Let someone in, say, Bend, Oregon, try to figure out where Plano, Texas, is when they see it in the dateline of future AT&T news releases.

Then, in the wake of its February acquisition of Dallas-based Comerica financial services company, Cincinnati-based Fifth Third Bancorp announced it was moving Comerica employees out of the 60-story Comerica Tower to Preston Center, far north of its current downtown location.

The next blow to its image was the announcement last week that the famous Neiman Marcus downtown Dallas store that has been in operation since 1907 will close down in September. The retailer’s corporate owner, cited a “changing environment and declining foot traffic” in downtown Dallas.

Then Dallas was hit by what may be the two biggest blows, at least for sports fans like me. The Mavericks and the Stars announced this past week that they are abandoning American Airlines Center for yet-to-be built arenas in North Dallas and in the suburb of Plano.

Both franchises claim that the 25-year old American Airlines Center was not built for the ‘modern fans’ who demand more amenities like upscale dining and beverage options, as well as “social areas” that allow fans to mingle during the game.

But it goes beyond the arena experience. Each franchise envisions an ‘entertainment district’ built around their arena that features restaurants, bars and other business to draw people to the venue.

Similar stadium-and-entertainment districts are popping up in other cities with professional sports franchises, including OKC where the OKC Thunder is expected to demolish Paycom Center and create an entertainment district after its new arena opens. (Don’t we already have a downtown entertainment district in Bricktown?)

Here’s what I’ve read about the Mavericks move: The team plans to build a multi-billion dollar arena and entertainment complex on the 104-acre site of the former Valley View Mall, approximately 10 miles north of downtown along the Dallas North Tollway and I-635. Unlike the American Airlines Center, located along the Dallas Area Rapid Transit rail line, the new site offers little public transportation options. So fans likely will have to negotiate crowded freeways before enjoying NBA games and the entertainment options. Read more about the move at ESPN.

The Mavs made no mention of operating a casino in their news release, for which the team’s ownership had been advocating. Mavericks CEO Rick Welts was quoted in a Dallas Morning News article: “I think if Dallas had it all to go over again, I think there might have been a little bit of a different approach on American Airlines Center. It does not serve … the needs or the expectations of a sports fan in 2026 who goes to a professional sporting event. We don’t have any of the hospitality amenities that one would expect in other markets, and I think we’re really looking forward to that.”

As for the Stars, here’s what I’ve found: The NHL franchise has signed an agreement with the city of Plano to move to what is now known as the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano, a retail center that is on the decline. The Stars envision a new arena and entertainment districts, similar to what the Mavericks plan on the Valley View Mall site a few miles to the south. Read more at ESPN.

Dallas residents vented their frustrations on the spate of exits from downtown at a recent city council meeting.

“The Valley View Mavs, the Plano Stars, Fox 4 gone, AT&T gone, Neiman gone,” said Sana Syed, the President of the Dallas Farmers Market Stakeholders Association. “What an embarrassing and painful city this week.”

Meanwhile, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram seemed to be enjoying some schadenfreude over the plight of Fort Worth’s big brother city 30 miles to the east. The headline on an article about the downtown departures reads “Mavericks’ site for new arena would turn downtown Dallas into a ghost town.”

Said Star-Telegram columnist Mac Engel: “Both the Mavericks and Dallas Star have stated their intentions to leave the American Airlines Center after their respective leases end with the facility in the spring of 2032. If they both leave, it would turn downtown Dallas into an evacuation site almost every night at 5 p.m.”

So, what’s behind the mass exodus from downtown Dallas. I asked a friend I’ll call “Andy” who lives in the DFW metro to share his perspective. Parking challenges for employees and the large number of homeless people inhabiting the area play a role, he said.

Workers have to park blocks from their offices and then are harassed by the homeless as they walk in, Andy told me.

So, employers are choosing to locate elsewhere like suburban communities far removed from downtown and the challenges it presents in 2026.

The decline of downtown Dallas brings to mind OKC’s downtown when I first came to town in 1983 to work for The Daily Oklahoman at its then-downtown newsroom. Downtown was dark and mostly abandoned after 5 p.m., with few restaurants, only one hotel — the Sheraton.

Fast forward to 2026 and we can see the renaissance brought to OKC by passage of the original MAPS program in 1992. Today, our downtown thrives with a busy entertainment area in Bricktown, multiple hotels and restaurants scattered throughout. Yay for investing in ourselves.

We have our own issues with homelessness, but there are organizations like Curbside Enterprises and SidexSide OKC that offer a path to housing and employment. We’re not running away from the problem.

So, while downtown Dallas declines, downtown OKC continues to rise up with new sports venues, an awesome park and convention center that give people a reason to come on down. (I’m not counting the exodus of Devon Energy because I see that as related to a corporate merger)

Can Dallas reverse the exodus and have a downtown worthy of its ‘Big D’ image? Stay tuned.

Light Rail in OKC Metro: Let’s get ‘er done

A DART train in downtown Dallas

Almost a decade ago, my family and I were visiting friends in Irving, Texas, when it was decided that we would all go to downtown Dallas to visit the Sixth Floor Museum.

The most likely route would have taken us on busy, congested freeways into downtown, and then hunt for parking.

So, we found a better alternative.

We took a train into Big D on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit — DART — light rail line. The station was much closer than downtown and offered a large park-and-ride lot.

The Green Line DART train delivered us to the downtown West End Station in a matter of minutes without the frustration and stress of negotiating traffic and looking for parking. Fare was roughly $6 per person for a day pass, which allowed us to hop on and hop off at will.

We spent much of the afternoon exploring downtown Dallas, then took the train back to our car.

It was nirvana for me, because I love all things rail and mass transit in general.

I’ve written all of this because of an article I read in The Oklahoman last week that outlined the vision for OKC metro light rail. The article said that ONE Transit, the agency responsible for developing a light rail line from Edmond through downtown OKC and south to Norman, has hired a consultant for the project. Read it here.

Here are some key stats from The Oklahoman article: “The system would run 38 miles along the BNSF railroad corridor, with board members estimating capital costs between $700-$800 million.”

ONE Transit is led by former Gov. Brad Henry, which to me adds credibility to the ambitious plan. I’ve always seen Gov. Henry as a go-getter who gets things done.

However, the ONE Transit rail project faces some gigantic hurdles. No. 1 will be figuring out how to finance nearly $1 billion to upgrade rail lines, buy equipment, set up stations, etc.

As I see it, No. 2 hurdle will be getting buy-in from communities like Edmond, Moore and Norman that would have to contribute dollars to participate in the plan.

The No. 3 hurdle is convincing car-loving Oklahomans across the OKC metro to support the concept of rail — and mass transit in general. (Side note: someone once told me that the average Edmond resident would rather be seen coming out of Christie’s Toy Box than waiting at a bus stop.)

It’s an immense task, but one that I think is do-able, because they got it done in the DFW metro during the 1980s. DART overcame opposition from a large minority of residents who were resistant to rail and wanted instead to build more highways.

More highways and toll roads were also built, but DFW roads are just as congested today, from what I’ve experienced.

Meanwhile, DART operates four separate rail lines and covers 93 miles of the DFW metro. It is part of a DFW system that also includes a separate line from downtown Dallas to Fort Worth and another light rail line from Fort Worth to DFW Airport.

Despite operating successfully for more than 30 years, DART still faces criticism from participating communities about the ongoing financial burden. Some towns threatened or held ballot initiatives to exit the DART system this spring, although I think Highland Park was the only one that voted to end relationship with the transit system.

DART officials promised to add more board members from suburban communities.

Anyway, I’m all in on regional rail in the OKC metro. I would love to be able to some day park my car near Edmond’s downtown, board a ONE Transit train and ride it into downtown OKC before exiting and walking into the new arena to watch a Thunder game.

I can dream!

I hope that my fellow OKC citizens and our Edmond neighbors, as well as our central Oklahoma neighboring communities will support it.  Studies have shown that economic development flourishes near rail transit stations.

As my friend Steve Buck said after reading The Oklahoman’s story on ONE Transit’s regional rail vision, “I still believe this is the way.”

It can happen.

BONUS CONTENT: The Oklahoman story reported that a group of ONE Transit officials recently visited Salt Lake City to tour that metro’s light rail system, which apparently has been super successful.

From the article: “The system, which runs from Provo through Salt Lake City, to Ogden, has generated more than 40 million annual riders and attracted $10 billion in private investment around transit stations since 1999.”

DOUBLE BONUS CONTENT: In a related topic, I wrote this blog post a couple years ago after reading Jeff Speck’s book, “The Walkable City.” The book focuses on building a vibrant downtown and neighborhoods that offer access to mass transit and encourage biking and walking. Read it here.

The impatient Transformer in my driveway is honking once again.

This Ford Escape honks its horn at random times like it’s seeking our attentoion

I’m a fan of the original Transformers movie in which Shia LaBeouf’s character buys his first car, a used yellow Camaro, which turns out to be an alien autobot-come-to-earth.

He names the car Bumblebee because of its yellow and black coloring.

The story goes from there, with Bumblebee pulling LaBeouf’s character out of dozens of tight situations as he’s fighting the bad Transformers that are hunting the earth and trying to destroy the good Transformers.

I found it amusing that Bumblebee would get impatient with his owner, at different times revving the engine or honking to get his attention.

That’s where my 2014 red Ford Escape comes in. Lately it’s been randomly honking at me, out of the blue.

For instance, the other day my grandson, Solomon, and I were in the front yard of his classmate, along with her mother. We were focused on a turtle the kids had found when the mom told me my car was honking at me.

Sure enough, the Escape was honking at like 30 second intervals in a real quick and not too loud honk. I walked out to the street where it was parked and pulled my keys out of the pocket thinking that maybe I had pressed a key accidentally.

The car ceased honking, and I went back to the neighbor’s yard.

That’s just one example. The previous week the car was parked in the driveway and I was in the back of the house. My wife, Paula, called out to me and said the car was honking and she couldn’t make it stop. I walked out the front door, and the Escape was honking, but at a more frequent pace.

I grabbed my keys and hit the door lock button trying to see if that would help. The honking ceased … for a few minutes. Then it started up again. I went out again, started it up and drove around the block before parking it back in the driveway. The honking ceased again and didn’t resume.

The honking has occurred at random times over a period of months.

Maybe the car just needs some attention in the same way our late Chihuahua, Sam, would bark and growl at us until we gave in and played with him.

So, I’m not sure if we have an alien Transformer disguised as a Ford SUV on our hands or if the car has some sort of electrical issue. I will go with the electrical issue, for now.

But just in case the car is an actual Transformer, I’ve decided to give it a nickname. Happy now, McIntosh?

I no longer hear any honking.

Lou Holtz and the professional failure that haunts me today

Jim Stafford with then-University of Arkansas coach Lou Holtz at the 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston.

The recent death of long-time college football coach Lou Holtz on March 4 stirred a lot of memories for me. Not all of them happy.

I’m ashamed to admit it was the biggest failure of my professional career.

Lou was University of Arkansas coach when I graduated college in 1978 and took a sportswriting position with the Southwest Times Record in Fort Smith.

So, I joined the SWTR staff in the wake of Arkansas’ stunning victory over OU in the 1978 Orange Bowl. Lou Holtz was riding high as Arkansas coach.

The 31-6 upset of the Sooners by the Lou Holtz-led Razorbacks turned him into an almost mythical hero among Arkansas fans. He had become head coach before the 1977 season, replacing Arkansas legend Frank Broyles, who retired from coaching to assume a full-time role as Athletic Director.

After that first season success, Coach Holtz became a much-sought after speaker across the nation. He even made an appearance on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

I saw that appearance and was amazed by Lou’s magic trick where he tore up a newspaper, wadded it up and then unfolded the wad into a fully restored paper.

I’ve seen Holtz do that trick countless times over the years, and I never figured out where he stashed the paper that replaced the one he tore up, or what happened to the shredded pages.

Anyway, for the first couple of years at the SWTR, my main roles were covering high school sports and doing layout on the sports desk. Eventually, I began attending selected Arkansas home games and writing sidebar stories to the main story written by our Sports Editor.

But in roughly 1982, I became Sports Editor, a position that afforded the opportunity to cover the Razorbacks on a more in-depth basis. For instance, I usually drove to Fayetteville on Tuesdays to attend practice and get some interviews with Lou and certain players for pre-game features.

I wouldn’t say that I was a full-time Razorback beat writer, but I covered all home games for the 1982 season, as well as the season-ending SMU game in Dallas and the Bluebonnet Bowl victory over Florida in Houston.

All that led up to August 1983, when I was preparing the paper’s annual football preview special section, which a lot of newspapers publish annually.

I’m not sure of the date, but an SWTR photographer and I drove to Fayetteville to interview Lou for our tabloid cover story. He welcomed us into his office and we sat down for the interview.

Almost all of my questions were total softballs, asking about certain players he expected to lead the team and looking forward to upcoming games. But near the end of the interview I asked him about the fact that despite all of his success at Arkansas he had not led the Hogs to the Cotton Bowl as SWC champions.

That set Lou off, and he got angry and animated.

“I’m tired of being asked about the Cotton Bowl all the time,” he said. “I’ll tell you right now, this is going to be my last doggone year at the University of Arkansas.”

I was taping this interview. So, I asked him if he was serious.

“I am, but if you say anything I will deny it.”

Whoa! Lou had lobbed a grenade into my pocket. Or the story of the year for Arkansas fans.

I have to admit, I wasn’t up to the moment.

As I drove back to Fort Smith, all I could think of is ‘why me?’ I was not a regular, daily beat reporter for the Hogs. If I broke this story, my reporting colleagues would think that I’m just trying to make a name for myself.

So, I kept it to myself. Call it a lack of courage, if you will. Because that’s what it was.

Pro-tip to young journalists: Don’t keep everything bottled up inside you. And don’t be afraid to share your fears or misgivings with a mentor or an editor. I should have gone straight to Jack Moseley, the SWTR’s editor, and asked him how to handle it.

I wrote my season preview with no mention of Lou’s comments and we published our special section. Less than two weeks later, an opportunity came up to take a position on The Daily  Oklahoman sports desk, and I accepted it.

So, as I departed the SWTR, I left the tape of my conversation with Coach Holtz with a colleague and told him if Holtz did, indeed, resign at the end of the season, to write a story based on the interview.

I knew it would be embarrassing for me, but, well, I deserved it. And the story needed to be told.

Lou DID resign at the end of the season, and the SWTR published the story of his pre-season comments. I got a couple of calls from national college football reporters, who wrote about it, as well.

I’m so glad there was no internet or social media in 1983.

Today, it’s known that Lou Holtz did not resign at the end of that season. He was fired by Frank Broyles, in part because he had campaigned for Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina, who for decades opposed almost every advance in civil rights for African Americans.

But that doesn’t matter to me. I had the story. I sat on it. I paid the price in self-worth. It haunted me for the rest of my career, even if no one really knew or remembered.

Lou’s passing provided the opportunity to finally admit my failure in a public way.

It’s an important life lesson. Don’t be afraid to share your information or situation with a mentor. Don’t sit on the story.

Don’t be like me.

Surprise! In House District 82, we have a choice in 2026 election

Oklahoma House District 82 candidate Travis Headd during a meeting at an Edmond coffee shop

Automotive pioneer Henry Ford once said that a Ford customer could have a car in any color they chose as long as it was black.

That’s a pretty funny quote and it rang true back in the 1930s.

Unfortunately, it also rings true for the political landscape across 2026 Oklahoma.

“You can vote for any candidate you choose as long as it’s a Republican.”

So much for the two-party system.

But, wait. There is diversity emerging in the candidates to consider in the upcoming Oklahoma legislative elections this year. According to the Oklahoma Democratic Party website, the party is fielding more than 100 candidates this year for offices across the state.

At last, that’s offering some choice in our deep red state. And in the OKC metro area, where we’re inching our way out of the red and into a darker hue, like, say, purple, there is opportunity to bring fresh perspectives to the state Capitol.

In the State House district in which I’m a resident, District 82, we’ve been represented since 2018 by Republican Nicole Miller. She’s had no opposition at all in recent elections.

I haven’t kept up with how Rep. Miller has voted, so I don’t know if she’s supported legislation like school vouchers that rob public schools by subsidizing private schools under the guise of ‘school choice.’ Or if she was all in on cutting revenue the state government has to operate on by reducing state income tax and letting folks like me keep enough extra income to buy, perhaps, a single tank of gas.

So, I’m not anti-Rep. Miller. But I do want  some choice when I’m casting my vote for State Representative.

This year, Rep. Miller has some opposition for the House position from Travis L. Headd, 55, a University of Tulsa graduate, inventor, businessman and Edmond resident.

I’ve known Travis casually for a couple of years because his significant other, Juliet Joy, and I worked together in the same office.

However, I really didn’t know Travis the person, so i asked him to meet me at a local coffee shop to hear his story and how he came to be a candidate for the State House District 82 seat.

Travis, as it turns out, is a St. Louis, Mo., native who played Division I football at Tulsa, where he was a running back, Doak Walker award candidate and a TU Football Hall of Fame member as part of the 1991 Freedom Bowl winning Hurricane team.

Since college, he has been awarded a patent in 2015 by the U.S. Patent office as co-inventor along with Craig Calloway of local internet search technology, has served as a certified health care professional and as a business owner.

You can easily spot Travis by his signature, colorful hat that almost always adorns his head.

So, why is Travis Headd running for the House District 82 position?

First of all, he told me, the State Democratic Party reached out to him to gauge his interest in running for office. He accepted the challenge, partially to give voters a choice.

“It’s not that she’s done anything wrong, as far as that goes, Travis told me. “But some years she’s had no opposition at all.”

Yes, but from my perspective, it appears Travis has some long odds against an established incumbent. Plus, he’s African-American and, well, a Democrat in what has been a fairly conservative district (full disclosure: I’m a Democrat and have been since 2008).

So, I told him my apprehensions. He responded with confidence in not only his ability to connect with voters but in the District residents themselves.

“The demographics of this particular market are changing, especially since 2018,” Travis said. “We have West Edmond, Deer Creek, upper Northwest Oklahoma City. It’s very diverse, one of the most diverse districts. And you’ve got a lot of young liberals, young families.”

Don’t let that word ‘liberal’ scare you. Travis is running on a platform that offers practical solutions to issues important to Oklahomans.

He sent me a detailed outline of the issues he considers vital to the district. Those include strengthening education across the state, supporting small business growth, responsible tax policies, smart local development, community safety and mental health awareness and access.

And those are not just bullet points. He has a detailed action plan for every one of them that appears reasoned and well thought out.

Let’s consider education, for instance. Travis advocates developing alternative career development for students who choose not to go to college.

“We need advocacy for these kids coming straight out of high school to get into the technical schools,” he told me. “Some of them go to college, and that’s fine. But a lot of them don’t go to college, and a lot of the kids are left with figuring out what to do in life. They don’t know what to do when they graduate. There’s all kinds of infrastructure development that they can get into that offers great paying jobs. And we can keep that talent local. We can develop these young students.”

Travis articulates the rest of his platform with equal fervor. You can learn more about him and his campaign at his candidate website, https://www.headd2026.com. He told me he plans to meet as many fellow residents as he can by knocking on doors and introducng himself to the community.

So, I see Travis Headd as a serious candidate who offers real ideas and solutions for my fellow residents in District 82.

Plus, he offers us a choice in 2026. A choice! We have the opportunity to end the Republican party’s Oklahoma super majority.

Take that, Henry Ford.

An Ode to the Celebration of Joy

I’ve celebrated the joy of discovery this past week.

This past week, with a lot of illness-related downtime on my hands — I’m fine, now — I did some casual scrolling across Youtube and came upon the video of a young musician named Jacob Collier leading a full orchestra on a 20-minute improvisational performance.

It was pure joy.

I had never heard of Collier, but he’s a young Englishman, musician and composer from a family of musicians. In this performance with a San Francisco orchestra, he directs each instrument section to play a certain chord over and over. He leads them section by section, so you don’t know where it is heading.

In fact, in a note posted with the video, Collier said the entire performance was accomplished with ‘no rehearsal, no sheet music, no prior discussion.’

When Collier finally leads every instrument section to play together as he begins to play the piano, you discover where it’s actually gone. He sings Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’ and it’s a perfect fit with the instruments. Then it morphs into a mix with  ‘Every Breath You Take’ as he leads the audience to join in singing key lines.

It an uplifting performance, and you can see it in the reactions not only of the audience but of the members of the orchestra. Every participant seemed caught up in the joyous moment.

I must have watched it six times. Watch it yourself below.

Collier has other videos posted where he interacts with audiences and orchestras the same way, and it’s all for the purpose of nothing more than celebrating joy.

In today’s us-vs.-them dystopian world, doing something with no motive other than to celebrate joy brings a breath of fresh air to us all. Or at least all of us who celebrate joy for, well, the joy it brings.

I’ve uncovered a few other gems that brought me joy this week that I’m sharing in this post.

First is a column by Joe Posnanski, one of America’s preeminent baseball writers. Written shortly before the Major League Baseball season began, Joe presents ‘The Most Fun Teams in Baseball.’ It’s an innovative way to consider all 30 MLB teams and rank them according to the number of ‘fun’ players rather than pure statistics. Read the column here.

Posnanski celebrates baseball with a joy that makes you want to love the game as much as he does.

Next is author and tech reporter David Pogue, whose reporting on Apple and other tech innovators over the years is always presented in an upbeat and positive manner with a touch of joyous humor thrown in.  I mentioned Pogue in a recent post about the hundreds of people who lined up outside Apple retailers when the first iPhones and iPads were released nearly 20 years ago.

I’m including him in this post because he’s written a wonderful article about how he became a tech reporter and his personal interactions with Apple and Steve Jobs over the years. It turns out that we have David to thank for the ability to make screenshots on the iPhone. The comments of his readers are just as interesting — and joyful.

Finally, I ran across an ESPN Instagram feed featuring their reporter, Omar Raja, who is sort of a mobile deliverer of unexpected joy to unlikely people. In one post, he surprised a kid of about 10 years old and his dad in the far upper deck of Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium with field passes AND front row seats to the game. The kid actually spent his own Christmas money to treat his dad to their first Steelers game. It’s a feel good story.

But there’s more from Omar.

ESPN’s Omar Raja bringing the joy on Super Bowl Sunday

On Super Bowl Sunday he drives past a kid who has set up a lemonade stand just blocks from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., site of this year’s Super Bowl. He slows down and apologizes to the kid because he has no cash to pay for a lemonade. As he drives off, the kid runs up to the car window holding a complimentary cup. Omar rewards him and his dad with Super Bowl field pass and tickets and ushers them into the stadium.

Tears of pure joy.

Long gone: The camaraderie of lines in anticipation of Apple product launches

I stumbled across a post recently by John Gruber on his Daring Fireball  blog that shared some perspective on Apple Inc. from David Pogue, a well known tech reporter who has written about Apple for roughly 42 of its 50 years.

Daring Fireball linked to a post that outlined some of Pogue’s highlights across his years covering Apple for the New York Times and other publications. It’s a worthy read because Pogue shares several anecdotes of his interactions with Apple, and specifically, Steve Jobs.

Pogue has written what may be the definitive history of Apple in a book, “Apple: The First 50 Years,” which was published to coincide with the company’s 50th anniversary on April 1.

What I really liked though, is a link to a video Pogue made for the NY Times in 2007, singing a parody of “My Way” with people standing in line to buy the first iPhone at the New York City Apple Store. It’s hilarious, but also shows the hundreds of people lined up to enter Apple’s famous 5th Ave. glass cube to buy the first iPhone. Watch it below.

The sight of all those people in the queue stirred memories for me of long lines outside of OKC’s Penn Square Apple Store and other retailers back in the day when new Apple products were launched.

I emailed Gruber a note of thanks for the link and how much I miss the camaraderie and festive atmosphere of those lines during Apple launches.

He replied: “It really was a special couple of years. I totally get why it couldn’t last forever, but it was really something for those early iPhone years.”

My first experience with a big new product launch was showing up at Penn Square Mall before dawn for the launch of the iPhone 3. I was surprised to find a long line of people waiting outside for the mall doors to open so they could rush in to grab a spot inside before the Apple store opened.

The line at Penn Square Mall during an Apple iPhone launch in roughly 2010l (Photo by Jim Stafford)

What struck me about the lines of people waiting for hours to buy an iPhone — and later, the iPad — was how festive and full of anticipation the people were. Apple employees periodically came out to hand out bottles of water, pastries and high fives to those waiting in line.

As for me, I chose to wait a few days after the product launch when I could walk into the store unfettered by a long line.

Those festive lines of yesteryear are long gone. When new products are released today they can be ordered online in advance and delivered to your home on launch day.

No lines, but no thrill of anticipation or sharing the moment with your new found friends. I miss it.

MORE APPLE GOODNESS

In case you missed it, Apple’s 50th anniversary as a company came and went on April 1. That’s the day in 1976 that Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne filed incorporation papers for what was then called Apple Computer.

There are stories and profiles all over the tech media about the anniversary. If you are interested in the perspective of folks who have covered Apple for four decades or more, I recommend visiting Jason Snell’s sixcolors.com.  Jason and a host of other writers share their perspectives on covering Apple through the years.

Snell also wrote an excellent review of Pogue’s new book, “Apple: The First 50 Years,” for the Wall Street Journal, although it requires a subscription to either the paper or to Apple News+ to read it.

Gruber’s Daring Fireball also offers perspective on the anniversary, including a link to his own podcast with Pogue about the book as well as an anecdote from the conversation.

Apple itself celebrated turning 50 by hosting music events across the globe, including one at its Cupertino, Calif., HQ that featured Paul McCartney. Check out Apple’s photo gallery.

Paul McCartney during Apple 50th anniversary celebration on its Cupertino, Calif., campus

 

How a tiny black & white TV created a lasting memory of 1983 Texas Rangers season opener

The late Arlington Stadium as it appeared in 1983

Today is Opening Day for 22 Major League Baseball teams, including my Texas Rangers, who opened against Philadelphia this afternoon (Rangers lost, 5-3). Opening Day has always been one of my favorite days of the year, because it means the long Winter is finally over and there is the promise of new life, even for my favorite team.

A long ago Opening Day is one of those special days where I know exactly where I was.

And I’m not talking about the baseball.

The year was 1983. The setting was the now departed Arlington Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game was the season opener between the  Rangers and the Chicago White Sox.

I looked it up, and it was a Monday night game . Only 13,140 fans showed up with few expectations for the Rangers that season.

I was in that crowd along with Eric Brooks, a fellow sportswriter at the Southwest Times Record newspaper in Fort Smith, Ark.. We drove to Arlington to catch the 1983 season opener because I was a Rangers fan and Eric was a fan of MLB in general.

It was my first — and only — MLB Opening Day game. And what a memory it became.

Here’s what I remember from the night: virtually nothing about the baseball game itself.

But it turned out to also be a night that many American sports fans recall because of an historic upset. North Carolina State beat Houston to claim the NCAA men’s basketball championship.

It was also special to me because Eric and I got to watch the incredible finish to that game while we were at Arlington Stadium with the Rangers game still in progress. You might remember that the Jim Valvano-coached Wolfpack scored one of college basketball’s greatest upsets when Lorenzo Charles scored the game winner at the final buzzer.

So, how were we able to watch that from the stands at Arlington Stadium?

While the NCAA game certainly wasn’t broadcast on the Rangers scoreboard, a fan seated in our section held a small, portable black-and-white television in his lap.

When we saw several people gather around the guy with the TV, Eric and I got up and joined the crowd. We could see the screen pretty well and knew that it was late in the NCAA championship game.

So, we stayed put to watch the frantic finish with that small crowd of college basketball crazies.

As for the Rangers game, Texas defeated Chicago starting pitcher Lamarr Hoyt that night, 5-3, in two hours and 25 minutes. I found the box score.

After the game, Eric and I headed over to the local Bennigan’s Restaurant for a late dinner. Eric spotted White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf seated at a table with team GM Roland Hemond.

I would not have known who they were, but Eric was a big MLB fan who recognized the baseball executives.  He wanted to rush over and strike up a conversation, although I talked him into waiting until they were finished eating.

Fast forward 43 years.

Today was another season opening day for the Rangers, who will play their 2026 home opener on April 3. The expectations are certainly higher than they were in 1983, but I won’t be in Arlington next week when the Rangers open at home against the Cincinnati Reds.

No big deal. I’ll always have my memories of that long ago season opener and watching the NCAA finals on a tiny black-and-white portable TV in the Arlington Stadium stands.

Heaven bound on the Branson Scenic Railway

About the board the Branson Scenic Railway

 

My family and I rode the rails on the Branson Scenic Railway this week with about 200 of our closest friends. We shared a nice table for 4 in an historic railcar from the 1950s that had been restored.

We were on this journey at the insistence of my 6-year old grandson, who rode it with me last year. He was excited to show it off to his mother and GiGi this time around.

This trip took us from the station in downtown Branson northwest through the community of Reeds Springs and ending on the southern edges of the town of Galena, Mo. We stopped for a couple of minutes on a long trestle that crossed the James River, then headed back to Branson on what would be a relaxing trip of just under two hours.

Our railcar, the Silver Lake, was full except for one empty table across the aisle from us. Seated at the first table beyond that was a man and his wife that I estimate were roughly 65 years of age.

The husband wore a T-shirt that said “Heaven is my home” in large print on the front. I saw him looking over at our table several times.

Finally, as we neared Branson on the return trip, he walked over to our table and struck up a conversation.

Had we been to the Sight and Sound Theater where they re-enact stories from the Bible? They have live animals and realistic scenes, and it’s so good that people have been saved because the Spirit of God moves them.

Then he dropped the hammer.

“Do you know Jesus?” Well, uh, we do, we said. Yes, sir.

“Well, I’m glad because I want to go to heaven and hope you do, too.”

With that, Mr. Heaven Bound went back to his table, and we could relax. I’m not sure why he singled us out, unless our dress identified us as part of the Great Unwashed. I was wearing a Flannel Shirt and OKC Comets cap. My wife had on a blue sweater.

The rest of the ride was pretty uneventful until just before we arrived at the station. A conductor came by and greeted everyone, including Heaven Bound and his wife.

All of a sudden, he loudly addressed the entire railcar of passengers.

“I really enjoyed traveling with all of you,” he said. “I hope you all know Jesus and hope to get to Heaven. I plan to go to Heaven and not the other place.”

Then an awkward quiet washed over the entire railcar. Fortunately, we pulled up to the station right then and everyone piled out as quickly as possible.

I’ve been in uncomfortable situations like that several times in my life, when someone so passionate about their faith that they want to grab you by the collar and force feed some Jesus down your throat.

I appreciate their passion, but not sure how this form of proselytizing can win many souls. I think it makes people run the other direction, even those of us who attempt to follow Jesus in some fashion.

To me, this type of ‘Gospel sharing’ is a shallow attempt to convert someone when there’s no history between either party or context to the theology he’s trying to reach them with.

Besides, everyone’s faith journey is different. I respect those whose journey has landed them in the arms of Jesus or another religion or even no religion at all.

When we all get to heaven we may be surprised to see who we meet there.

Aboard the Branson Scenic Railway