The Home Field Advantage!

The Home Field Advantage!

How can I put this delicately?  I’m old.  Old people have issues.  I suspect this is an issue many old people have.  Hmm…how to say, how to say?

I am a creature of habit.  There are some things that just always happen at around the same time.  For older people nature's alarm rings at the same time every day.  At least it does for me.  I like to be home when I answer the alarm.  I prefer the home field advantage.

When we go on vacation, I sometimes do not get the alarm for a few days.  Nature knows I prefer the home field advantage, and the alarm is shut down.  I have heard others who claim to have the same “Vacation alarm” system.

This year we visited with Mrs. C’s relatives on Easter.  We had great food, good drink, conversation, and lots of laughs.  We do this every year, leaving early in the day, and staying till well after dark.  

An early breakfast seamlessly morphs to brunch and with only a short respite is followed by dinner.  In between there is lots of liquid refreshment and knoshables.    

My issue is that early in the day is several hours before my alarm goes off.  Being away my system knows to delay the alarm, but by the time dinner is over the alarm is insistent.  Great food and near constant eating with a cup or two of coffee and maybe a beer as well does not quiet the alarm…it infuriates it.

At this point, as much as I am having a good time, I really would prefer to go home where the alarm can by answered with comfort.  As I drop hints to Mrs. C, she is oblivious to my issue and gets irritated with my hints that it is getting late.

“Umm, it’s getting a little late, you don’t want to miss the new episode of 'Game of Thrones', do you?”

“It will be on demand, I can catch up later, I’m having a good time, just stick it out…HONESTLY, don’t be a jerk!”

“OK”

My WASP upbringing makes it impossible to explain the real reason for my impatience.

Now I am getting more uncomfortable, and sneaking outside to hit the snooze becomes more frequent, and quite frankly a little risky.  I finally had to answer the alarm.  When everyone was occupied with gossip, I slinked off to the away-field.  

With more than just a little difficulty, I was able to quiet the alarm enough to reasonably enjoy the next hour and a half of family gossip and safely make the 45-minute trip back home.

Once we were home and all the dinner left-overs were put away (Italians will not let you leave their home without taking food), I was finally able to completely shut off the alarm with minimum effort.

There is nothing like having the home field advantage.