(Aside: I've never been a big sports rivalry person. When I was a Washington Redskins fan in the last 80s/early 90s, I did sort of get caught up in the "don't like the Dallas Cowboys" thing because that's such a storied rivalry, but I was more "I hope the Skins do well" and much less "SUCK IT, COWBOYS!" And heck, I probably had more issues with Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke than with anyone running the Cowboys. Nowadays I live in Oregon and follow both the Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers. They're two good programs from two good schools; either could be national championship material. I'm more a "do well, state of Oregon!" kind of fan than a "MY COLLEGE'S TEAM IS BETTER THAN THEIR COLLEGE TEAM SO SUCK IT!!!" kind of fan.)
So what's been comforting? Not waking up to an alarm -- and knowing I don't have to wake up to an alarm tomorrow while I take time off to recharge. Being able to watch Rick Emerson on his still-intact media job, hosting the Sunday morning show Outlook Portland. Listening to the Beatles album Please Please Me. Reading y'all's online stuff.
I hope this is a recharging day. And a recharging stretch of days.