Catch Me If You Can
Here's a YouTube video of a dog chasing a squirrel around a tree which I came across on my Twitter feed the other day.
I retweeted the post and remarked at the time that it reminded me of Celtic vs Barcelona at Parkhead on Wednesday evening.
Now Celtic were much a much improved side from the previous away leg and gave the Catalan giants a decent game, but Barcelona were always just that step or two ahead in terms of skill, organisation and sheer quality.
So while I applaud the dog's 'dogged' pursuit, it's the quicksilver squirrel that's playing a game of 'catch me if you can'.
Field of Dreams (23/11/16)
Celtic Park in Glasgow - with just over 3 hours to go before kickoff with the mighty Barcelona FC.
Where Dreams Come True (04/06/11)
I watched Field of Dreams earlier today, one of my all time favourite films.
FoD is a modern-day fairytale - a place in Iowa where American baseball meets Alice in Wonderland, a place where time can be suspended, or made to jump back and forwards at will.
But if you can suspend belief for an hour or two then the film is a real joy for believers and non-believers of all ages.
Especially men of a certain age and generation who had a poor relationship - or no relationship - with their fathers.
In the final scene, Ray Kinsella, the Kevin Costner character, finally gets to make his peace with the 'ghost'of his Dad.
By playing a symbolic game of catch which he never quite managed while his father was still alive.
Years later, with a wife, a child, a house and grown up worries of his own, Ray Kinsella begins to look at his life in a completely different way.
Which sets him off on a great adventure, following his heart not his head, with no idea of where or how things will end.
Along the way Field of Dreams is an emotional rollercoaster of a film, by turns funny and sad, intelligent and inspiring, folksy and perspicacious.
The principal actors are all excellent, the character actors (James Earl Jones and Burt Lancaster) are great and the musical score is wonderful.
What more could you ask for except perhaps a memorable phrase or two.
'If you build it, he will come', has its many admirers - and rightly so.
But I prefer this exchange between John (Ray's Dad) and Ray Kinsella:
Is this heaven?
No, it's Iowa.
Day of Reckoning (23/11/16)
Celtic Park in Glasgow, bathed in sunshine, awaits the arrival of Barcelona Football Club later today.
Can the Scottish champions beat the Catalan giants?
Seems unlikely, but who knows because football can be a funny old game sometimes and whatever happens it's bound to be a great night out.
