Both our children are home this weekend. It’s the Alumni Basketball Tournament at Franklinville Central School. This tradition which began perhaps twenty years ago draws alumni from all across the country back to our small town nestled in the foothills of the Allegany Mountains. Last night we went to watch the opening round as teams from this decade competed against teams made up of men who range in age from twenty-one to nearly sixty. Our son Devin’s team took the floor last night and it was good to see these young men reunited. Although I always love to watch Devin play, I was especially glad to see one of his teammates, Dustin Owen, recently returned from the U.S. Army and Iraq. Dustin finally got out after being stop-lossed. He joined in 2002 for what was supposed to be a four year hitch and finally got out just a couple of months ago. The young men triumphed last night. Today will bring more competition and camaraderie.
Franklinville is usually a sleepy little town, but on this weekend once a year it comes to life a bit as former school boy players and their families converge to reunite on the hardwood, the homes and restaurants of our village.