Yesterday was emotional in a way that none of the last twenty-five observances of that strange and lovely morning had been. It was a morning that became too busy to think about and too intense to fully channel, and one that would hold such horror—and so much energy and attention—through the next quarter century.

Only yesterday was some of the struggle laid bare with a tear.

Our Michigan members—Wolverines and Spartans—are in a mixed bag today. Our Spartans are taking on Eastern this afternoon and should cruise through with a few festive beverages. But the Wolverines were startled by an aroused Western Michigan squad last week, which was a reminder that anything can happen when a fired-up team arrives ready to play in The Big House.

Today, that could be the Okies!

Given that possibility, Miles conferred with the METOC crew early and discovered it was going to be a day of grey skies with the possibility of showers. So he asked Deirdre to come up with an alternative to the grills outside on the Patio—some comfortable chow for the afternoon that could move inside or outside depending on what the weather decided to do.

This is what she thought might work from her Cheatin’ Recipe collection: meals for when things change on the fly but still need to look organized and taste good.

It is cheese tortellini with Italian sausage, Parmesan and mascarpone, built around the essential Cheatin’ ingredient: a good jar of sauce already made by somebody who knows what they are doing.

The whole thing can be put together upstairs in the Trillium Service Kitchen on the 6th Floor, loaded onto the buffet cart with salad, rolls and a little wine, and rolled down through the Galley—or out to the Patio if the clouds decide to cooperate.

Fast, warm, filling and flexible.

Which seems about right for a football Saturday when nobody actually knows what is going to happen until the ball is in the air.

Go Blue!

Copyright 2026 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com