Divided Loyalties

After rounds this morning, I drove a little ways from where I work . . .up a far-Eastern N.C. country road surrounded by cotton fields . . . and found myself in a new local tavern for lunch.  A couple I know just opened it up, and I've done my part to lend support in these uncertain economic times.  Their salads are THE BOMB.  But today, I wanted to try their home-made pimento cheese sandwich . . .

. . . with iced-tea, of course.  After-all, I'm on-call today.  And unlike the WAY over-paid big-guns who run the hospital in Asheboro, I think it's important for doctors to set a good example in public.

When I arrived, the place was quickly filling up . . . as the State-ECU game was on the big screen over the bar.  Most of the guys at the bar were wearing red.  And when I arrived, they were pretty morose. 

Let's just say, the wolves were yelping.

Although I'm a Demon Deacon Doc, I've been an NC State Wolfpack fan all my life . . . as both my Father and brother attended university in Raleigh.  But these days my loyalties are divided.

You see Pirates sign my paychecks.  That, and I really dig purple.

When I left, State had just scored its first touchdown after getting trounced for most of the first quarter.  Spirits were up in the bar.  It apparently went on to be a nail-biting game - the victor decided only after overtime.

The Domestic-Terrorists-in-Purple ultimately prevailed over the Pack.  But they had to work for it.

And that's as it should be for those of us with divided loyalties.