It is not like the 90's were as far back as the Civil War or the Great Depression but due to the internet, the media attention (negative) and how easy it is to get hung up, well, it seems like a hundred years ago.

For some of the older guys I can't imagine looking back to the 70's or even the 60's. That must feel like 10 lifetimes.

A number of years ago we had two dogs going in a three dog show. The home team had three dogs going and add one more camp at 5 max per side. 15 total with 2 refs and one friend. 18 tops was what we were told. Our five split between two rides. We met up and a guy got in the truck with us for directions. We turned down a dirt road (which is always nice) and then into a very well to do neighborhood (not so good). It was all family land so we were OK. Turned onto a long drive and made a turn into the huge back yard of this really nice house. I just about crapped in my pants. The first thing I saw was a guy with a parking attendant's lighted wand parking cars. People were tailgating like it was football game. A conservative guess would be close to a 100, maybe more.

We park and walk up the hill toward the house and there is a concession stand with a line selling cold beer and fish sandwiches. I was in the WTF? mode to say the least. There was a sign on the door that said, "No Automatic Weapons", 1. Like there are rules of engagement in that scenario and 2. Maybe with some equality there will be no gun play.

The guy that turned me onto the dogs received a "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the crowd. It was hairy for me but it was nice deal considering the time he had put into the game over a number of years. With that said, I could talk to him/spend time with him any day of the week and I was hoping for short matches, WIN OR LOSE, just to get out of there.

IN the end it turned out fine. I won with my male, and the other male lost as game as anyone could ever ask. I was so ready to leave I can't remember anything about the third deal.

Same thing today and the ol' ticker might give way. That was in the early 2000's and that seems like a lifetime ago. Times surely do change. EWO