Go Retire Psychiatrist

The announcement for the annual Dept. of Psychiatry Kickball game just came out. I think that was also the day the trees in our backyard outlot got heat shock and dropped a lot of their leaves. It was in the high 80s.

So, the event is scheduled for June 29, 2026 at 6:00 pm at Napoleon Park in Iowa City. I have the distinction of never playing in a single game since this event got started in 2015. At that time, it was called matball, which was clearly a misnomer but so what? Matball is for indoor games, but the same rules applied. It rained a little at first, so we had to run out and pick up the mat bases.

It was a blistering hot day in the 90s at least. It was held at Happy Hollow Park, not far from the Oakland Cemetery. We buried the faculty members who dropped from heat stroke somewhere nearby the Black Angel statue.

It was faculty vs residents and guess who won? OK, fine it was the residents, but who won after that? Yes, it was the residents. We can stop with that history, if you don’t mind. I don’t think it would have made any difference if I’d played.

The residents won the first trophy—which somehow got immersed in strawberry Jello. I’m just guessing it was strawberry. It could have been cherry. How would I know? If there was no lock on the door to the residents’ room where the refrigerator was, it would take a pretty good detective to figure out who pulled that pretty clever (I mean shocking) stunt.

I don’t know if the teams are still faculty vs residents. Somehow, I doubt it; losing every game gets old. Pizza will be provided at 6:00 pm. The game is in Field #5 and will start at 7:00 pm. The victory trophy, depending on what color it is, could pair nicely with lime Jello—just sayin’.