FIVE YEARS AGO: June 10, 1994

Mom reminds me at dinner that we have tickets to go with my aunt and uncle to the Candlewood Playhouse in Danbury, Conn. tomorrow night to see "West Side Story." I look at her in disbelief and inform her that there is no way on God's green earth that I'm going to be sitting in a theater on a Saturday night that could possibly be the culmination of everything I've dreamed about for nine years.

Mom tells me I'm going to the show. I calmly tell her once again that the only show I am leaving the house for tomorrow involves a trip to Vancouver. She presses, and I say something hysterical about how I'll never forgive any of them if the Rangers win and I'm not watching. Mom offers me this -- go to dinner with everyone up in Danbury, and then watch the game at my aunt and uncle's house. I chortle and counteroffer -- I stay home.

Dad, who seems to have been weighing the familial aspects of this whole thing against his own fandom, interjects that he's not going to Candlewood, either. I smile, since it wouldn't have been the same if they won without him there to scream about it with me. We look at each other, and the thought seems to hit our faces at the same time -- the Rangers are going to lose Game 6, if for no other reason than our changing plans to watch it.

Mike (And yes, if I'd have gone, they'd have won in six. Isn't that what this game is all about?) Fornabaio -- mef17@oocities.com

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