On the Bench with Byron Higgin

State track is a really good time because I get a chance to photograph the local athletes. But if there’s one thing I don’t enjoy, it’s trying to find a parking place at the Hamline University track.

That’s because there really isn’t any. I joked with one official, saying the only place still available to park was in the middle of the track. But this year’s experience produced a most pleasing result. I was cruisin’ around the block looking for someone to leave so I could pull in.

The only available places to park were in front of houses.

Suddenly, I noticed Brad and Diane Gillingham walking toward the track. I asked Brad if he found a parking space and he joked, “Somewhere in the next county.” I continued to drive around looking for an opening — and to nobody’s surprise, there just weren’t any.

I was just going to make a swing back up the street in front of the track — just in case, when suddenly I got a telephone call. I pulled over, and to my surprise, it was Diane Gillingham.

She told me to pull onto this street (the one I was about to pull onto), and look for two girls with orange vests. Well, I could see them right away and the Gillinghams were standing right next to them — waving me to come on in. When I got there, the two girls waved me into the lot — where there were plenty of parking spaces

. I walked up to them and asked if this was a media lot.

They said NO — but they let me in anyway. Later, I began to wonder how the Gillinghams got my cell phone number.

“We called back to the Mascot and asked them for it,” said Brad. Not only was this a great place to park, but it was so close to the track I was able to get right back out again when the meet was over. I didn’t feel a Thank You was enough for this act of kindness.

So I’m saying it publicly — Thank You Brad and Diane Gillingham.

It was not only a very kind thing to do, but a very thoughtful moment. It’s times like this that make covering the young athletes so very much fun.

It also helped me understand even deeper why I enjoy being in Minneota — it’s the people. Thanks again Gillinghams. You did me a great favor.