OK, This is Crazy

I mentioned earlier that we knew we were planning this trip to New Zealand during the Big 12, and NCAA Championship tournaments.   And yes, we knew that this "could" be the year for another KU National Championship, which is nirvana for Shelley and I, and our entire family.    Alas, we thought that this was the right time to tour these two islands, and have the Vacation of a Lifetime.    It has lived up to its billing so far, but today was just crazy.   

Here we are driving south on Hwy 2 in the southern part of the North Island headed for our destination in the wine regions around Martinsborough.   We have a good Wi-Fi router in our camper that costs $10/day, and it has been great.   It is 10:30 on Monday morning, and KU is tipping off in its game with Michigan State.  We read all the hype last night, and know that this is a huge game for KU, and they need to make a statement on their way to the Final Four.

I'm still trying to get used to driving on the left side of the road, but Shelley has ESPN on her phone getting the play by play updates.   Our four kids, spouses, and 7 grandkids are all on one group text message, and each of them is piping in their thoughts on the game.   The game is tense and Shelley is telling me that I may have to pull over if it is still close at the end, for her to stand on her head for good luck.   She threw something at me when I suggested it would be really impressive if she could do that while we were driving....  think of the good luck that would bring....maybe not.  Not even the Flying Wolinskis could stand on their head in this tiny camper van while I drive down these NZ roads.   

Then I am asking her to get off the basketball site, to get back to the Google maps so she can tell me when our next turn is.   Begrudgingly she changes, tells me quickly, "Go left in 2 km", and then she is back to the text site.  Great we're up by 6.    Shana sends a video of her entire family sitting around the TV in their basement in Wichita watching the game.   The kids can barely take their eyes off the game to say Hi to their long lost Grandparents,  half way around the world.   I get it,  I would be the same way if KU was on the TV in a big game.  We had to pull over to watch the video from Shana, catch up on all the plays, then move on.   Bryan and family are watching from Lawrence, Erin from Austin, and Charlie, Cait and Luke are glued to the TV in Pasadena.    Perfect!

We knew something big happened, when Charlie texted "JJ and simply a WOW!!!   Must have been another great dunk by Josh.   Then the Vick technical made us pull over to figure out who did  what, and if that was swinging the game back to MSU's favor.   Luckily not.   

By the time we got to our Holiday Park the game was over, KU wins by 20, and all is right with the world.   NZ looks prettier than ever, it is a bright sunny Monday afternoon, we are in wine country, and there is not much more you can ask for.    We got settled and spent the next two hours reading every website on the game, watched a few of the videos (the lob to Svi from Devonte was a thing of beauty), and now our night is really perfect with Duke LOSING!!!!    Villy and Duke out.    Come on Shelley, lets go drink some wine.  Rock Chalk Jayhawks!!