The 2007-2008 Boston Celtics season is over and the best team in basketball is once again in their rightful position as NBA World Champions.
And so the trip to that wonderful, unknown place called the 2008-2009 Boston Celtics, NBA World Championship Defense season has begun.
Father Time and Mother Patience has just strapped me in to the back seat of the big, green vehicle we always take when the Boston Celtics season is over and then we all decide to take a ride to the next season. Sometimes, especially lately, those rides have been very long and very boring. I've napped comfortably through way too many of those rides.
Is it November yet? That thought runs through my mind.
Some of those trips between the last game and the next first game have been eventful. As I have looked out the windows on the way to the next season I've seen football games and parades and baseball games and rallies. Those were lots of fun. But in comparison, they just aren't the best. They were just something to pass the time on those long, long rides.
The car started and Father Time pulls out of the driveway and pulls down Draft Street. I've always loved Draft Street with all the little saplings that could become big, strong trees. The baby tree that would become our very own tree always looked so good and always looked like it would become the biggest, strongest and best tree on the street. Usually, it just became another tree.
I love Draft Street but I'm too excited and ask Father,
"Is it November, yet?!"
He assures me it isn't even close, that the trip just started. Mother points to the pretty new Giddens and Walker tress that just got planted and how they are all ours and how big and athletic they will be. I'm a bit saddened yet still soooo excited because Father told me there might be some trees gone the next time we all come home and some new trees put in their place. He assures me that my 5 favorites that I play under all the time we still be there though.
Draft street is over and Father is about to turn onto Free Agent Avenue.
"Is it November, yet?!"
I'm assured that it isn't. I just can't wait. It seems like it's taking forever. When is it going to be November again? I love November. That's the time when everything turns green and white(and nowadays sometimes a little, little black) again and that orange ball bounces and excitement returns to my life. Oh how I love November!!
"Is it November, yet?!"
Father and Mother look to be getting a little miffed at my constant asking. Father is telling Mother how all the barricades and detours on Free Agent Avenue are gone and that we should sail through that street quite easily and with spectacular results. Mother always is concerned with the toll fees on Free Agent Avenue but Father always acts like he has a get out of jail free card or something.
"Is it November, yet?!"
Father is definitely getting a little bit angry. My impatience is wearing thin on his face. He explains that we have only just turned onto Free Agent Avenue. We still have to cruise by the Vacation Lakes, merge onto the Summer League Highway, then travel a long way before we eventually see Training Camp Boulevard that everyone knows leads to PreSeason Street and then to our final destination, The Opener.
Just the thought of it gets me bouncing in the back seat.
"How long til we get there? Is it November yet?!"
The words come out of my mouth like they just Rondo'd someone. Father's starting to get that "Perk after just being called for another foul" look on his face again. But I can't help it. The excitement is palpable and I can't contain myself.
Mother Patience reminds me of just how long a ride this is. She reminds me that it won't be nearly as long as most of these trips have been since we got that Big Ticket that took that us through the Playoffs, but she tries to teach me that patience is a virtue and that November will come.
But when? This isn't going to be just another November. This is going to be one of those November's that used to happen back when our pet Bird was flying around the house. But that was a long, long time ago. This is going to be one of those November's with an Opener that Father calls Banner. It's going to be a Banner Day, he says. Lots of yelling, and happiness and some tears and green and maybe even some more of those smelly cigars.
But I have always loved those Banner Days. They make me more excited than when I watch those girls cheer on Celtics during timeouts.
"Is it November, yet?!"
Father is really mad now. He looks in the rearview mirror. He stares at me and then smiles.
"I can't wait until you're driving and your little one is sitting in the back for these types of trips." he says to me.
"Why?" I ask.
"Because November can never come soon enough when your little one is in the back seat."
I not sure what he means. But decide to ask one more question because I know a long time has past and it must be time to ask again.
"IS IT NOVEMBER, YET?!"
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