The 8th Wonder of the World

astrodome
Originally uploaded by dangunderman.

During my three-and-a-half years in Texas, between the ages of five and nine, the Astrodome was the most magical place on earth. After all, the Astros played in the Astrodome on Astroturf. It was enough to make you wet yourself with glee.

Astros and Oilers games, rodeos, demolition derbies, monster truck rallies... This makes up but one part of the magic of the Astrodome.

The thing I remember most about Texas in general was the 100-degree heat with the 90% humidity. In November. Shorts at Christmas. The place was miserably fucking hot.

The Astrodome, however, was the coolest place on earth, a perfect 72 degrees and dry everyday. When Joe Niekro pitched his wacky knuckleball, the AC blew out toward the pitcher's mound to make his ball dance more. I'm telling you: the Astrodome was magic. And it knew it, too. The Astrodome people called it the 8th Wonder of the World. I believed them.

The Astros left the magical (and 40-year-old) Astrodome years ago. The Oilers left town completely and became the Tennessee Titans. Houston now has the Houston Texans (a name dumb enough to do the Phillies proud), but they don't play in the Dome.

No, the Astrodome doesn't get much use these days. So now that New Orleans is being evacuated in total (a concept I can't seem to get my head around), refugees from the far inferior Superdome are headed to the Astrodome.

What few events the Astrodome had planned have been cleared through the end of the year. People will be living in the Astrodome for at least four months. Even my seven-year-old self would fail to see the magic in that. But it's nice to have a reason to root for the Astrodome again.