Thunder and sunburns

You see, I was picking up David at the OKC airport at noon yesterday and we found out that the Thunder basketball team would be returning around 2. We thought it would be fun to stick around and join the crowds assembled to welcome them home. I had no idea how many people would show up and figured we’d go get some lunch and then come back. Well, as we pulled out of the airport we saw the long line of cars pulling into the open, grassy area where the event would take place. We decided we’d better put off lunch. I needed a bathroom and we both wanted something to drink.

We headed to the nearest convenience store. There was a single restroom and someone was in there. We waited. And waited. And waited some more. I almost said to David that I wondered if someone was taking a bath in there. It turns out I wasn’t far off the mark. Finally the door opened and out came a young man who had apparently been freshening up and changing clothes. Guess I was right.

With empty bladders and something cold to drink, we headed back to the airport and joined the LONG line of cars filing in. Eventually we were ushered into the huge, grassy field where we parked and joined the growing crowd.

David took the picture above with his phone. The rest were taken by me. See why I need an iPhone upgrade? At first it was quite overcast and not all that hot. But then the clouds cleared and the sun began to beat down on us. That’s when I wished I had thought to bring sunscreen. Or an umbrella. I was wearing a crocheted vest with fringe (quite cute, by the way) over the top seen in the picture at the beginning of this post. I figured if I was going to get a sunburn I’d at least like to have somewhat decent tan/burn lines so I removed the vest. And since it was so hot I borrowed the ponytail holder David happened to have on his wrist (at some point before I’d picked him up he had taken his hair down) and put my hair up. Yes, must have maximum skin exposure, right? So my upper back and neck looks just like what you see in the picture. And yes, I do have the faint outlines of a peace sign on my chest.

Anyway, despite the heat and the lengthy wait, it was worth it. Everyone was so excited, especially the kids.

Finally the bus arrived and the players filed out onto the stage. Several of them spoke. They all seemed genuinely overwhelmed by the heartfelt greeting they received. Despite having lost the championship the night before, their Oklahoma fans welcomed them back home with a crowd of nearly 5000. I wasn’t tall enough to see much more than the back of the heads of people in front of me but I stuck my phone up and tried to take some pics anyway. David probably has better ones on his camera but he hasn’t put them on Facebook for me to swipe yet. If you click on this next one you should be able to see a few of the players.

More young fans:

We did have a good, close view as the bus pulled out but the windows were so darkly tinted we couldn’t see inside.

See what I mean about the crowds? I suspect more than a few people called in sick to work yesterday.

I wish this had turned out better. I was taking a picture of the news helicopter but I like the way it also captured the oil rigs in the background.

And finally, one very excited little boy: