I walked down to the UA last Saturday morning with my son. I guess I forgot what Homecoming was like when I was a student. In my mind, I thought about Wilma and Wilbur, and I thought my son may get to say hello to the mascots. 

At the end of Mountain Avenue, we got through a little crowd at the Student Union entrance, then moved onto the Mall. I remember the fraternities and sororities always being a big part of campus, but I don't recall Homecoming being a Greek-exclusive get-together. The majority of the tents that framed the Mall were from every house. Was it really this way all along? Had I learned to ignore Greek life as much as possible in my version of the old days? 

So the Greeks were out, heavily out, taking a majority of the Mall space reserved for alumni groups. Some even had their own house DJs literally spinning records: little college boys at turntables pumping out rap as Greek alums from the '70s strolled in for hamburgers and salad. 

I'm not a fan of the Greek system, who cares? But what interested me during our stroll were the beer booths and the sale of beer in the midst of the Homecoming frat party, taking place in the middle of campus.

Isn't the UA a dry campus? Aren't there a few houses struggling because of the crackdown on liquor at the fraternities and sororities that are on campus? What an interesting position for the UA to put itself in--enforcing liquor policies on campus by declaring itself dry, but pouring out the beer smack in the middle of the university in the name of Homecoming. 

I guess the state Department of Liquor Licenses and Control didn't like it, either. More than 150 people were arrested on liquor-related violations that weekend. and the alumni association got itself in a bit of trouble. Then in Arizona Daily Wildcat, I got a bigger picture of changes that have occurred. Evidently last year, the beer was free and free flowing. This year, there was a two-drink maximum, and the hooch cost money. (ED NOTE: Thanks for the correction, IPH.)

Students and alumni complained bitterly about the change. Complained? I like beer, but between the liquor violations and the dry campus proclamation by UA administration, I wonder if hypocrisy is the latest in academic offerings. I know, I know. Get those alums drunk, and soon, those checkbooks come out. Bring in the Greek tents with those crazy kids playing their crazy music, and everyone is ready to do the nostalgia kick-back. 

Interesting how the Hispanic and Black alumni tents were off to the side. They were packed despite not being the center of the party.

Next year, what will happen to the new beer sales system? Who will get pissed about not being able to get pissed?

We didn't see Wilbur and Wilma, and walked home quietly, passing keg parties along the way.

Our Saturday morning was just a small reminder that my Homecoming ... a true Homecoming ... is better off spent on other weekend walks with my son through campus. .

ALMOST SORT OF FINAL FOR NOW RESULTS!!!

Updated: 10:50 p.m.; final update of the night! Analysis and pithy commentary coming tomorrow!

26.4 percent voter turnout; 127 of 128 precincts reporting, plus early votes

Prop 200: Tucson Water Users' Bill of Rights

YES: 16,176: 28.3 percent

NO: 41,017: 71.7 percent

PROP 100: Mayor/Council Raises

YES: 27,025: 47.3 percent

NO: 30,101: 52.7 percent

MAYOR

Bob Walkup (R-Incumbent): 39,468: 71.1 percent

Dave Crouteau (G): 15,598: 28.1 percent

WARD 1

Regina Romero (D): 36,855: 72.6 percent

Beryl Baker (G): 13,643: 26.9 percent

WARD 2

Rodney Glassman (D): 34,187: 60.9 percent

Lori Oien (R): 21,824: 38.9 percent

WARD 4

Shirley Scott (D-Incumbent): 36,659: 65.7 percent

Dan Spahr (R): 19,057: 34.2 percent

Here's a sad story about a high school student whose backpack was searched because he was incoherent. They found "what looked like marijuana," and the whole family has now been deported to Mexico because they were here illegally. They had been living here for six years.

I think there could've been a different punishment for the student without dragging the whole family into it.

This article doesn't address whether the family was hard-working or employed, whether they contributed to the community or society, what kind of students their children were, etc.

One hundred students marched peacefully from the high school to the police station as a protest.

The Tucson Police Department's photo-radar van will be in the following areas on Wednesday, Nov. 7:

• 7 to 9 a.m.: School crossing on Kenyon Drive near Sarnoff Drive
• 9:30 to 12:30 p.m.: On Research Loop south of Golf Links Road
• 3 to 8:20 p.m.: On 22nd Street near Swan Road

Due to threats being made anonymously, we're (hopefully) temporarily turning on comments moderation. In other words, all comments will go into a queue before they're made public on the site.

Any and all comments--no matter how critical or insane--will be let through as long as they come somewhere close to following our Comments Policy guidelines.

I am sorry it had to come to this. The joys of a public forum.

Being back in Tucson means I get an invitation with my mom to go to the Catholic cemetery on All Souls Day/Day of the Dead. So, trying to be a good 40-year-old daughter, I go with my mom to Holy Hope last Friday with a smile on my face. 

It's interesting being in a place that is all about the past. I was deluged with memories of going to the cemetery as a youngster with my mom and her two sisters, along with my other girl cousins. It was a female-only event for my family. I've never asked her why, but it was always that way. 

Back then, we went to a large flower mart. I can't remember where it was, but I'm sure my oldest aunt who loved Old Pueblo Traders led the pack there for a good flower deal or two. 

My family has always had beliefs about different dead relatives, as well as the process of death—beliefs that bordered on mystical. When I was younger, I didn't have a lot of respect for these stories and always rolled my eyes at them along with my cousins. Now, I cherish those tales and think about making up a few of my own. 

I remember that these beliefs reflected the flowers we purchased. My grandfather loved roses, and we wouldn't be able to find his gravestone if we didn't bring him roses. He’s buried only 10 feet away from my great-great-grandmother. They never complained about finding her. 

There was also an area reserved for babies where my oldest aunt's youngest is buried. I remember holding hands with my two oldest cousins as we looked down at his little headstone and said hello to him in our little voices. 

And now, more than 30 years have passed, and here I am with my 72-year-old mother. Surrounding us are families having picnics, music coming out of radios and even a mariachi musician in the distance. My mother's sisters are now gone and get a share of the flowers at each of their gravesites—flowers my mother buys from the flower section of the arts and crafts store. 

I look around feeling odd about the fake flowers, but sure enough, we are surrounded in a sea of fake flowers. There are a few holdouts of the real thing. A few years ago, my mother bought a bench that reads "Herreras Family" on the side. The bench sits at the foot of her mother and father's gravesite. 

My mother clears grass off headstones before putting the flowers in place. We rest on the bench before moving on to other relatives. I remind her about the roses for my grandfather. She laughs and says she doesn't seem to have trouble finding him now. She likes the view from the bench because she just has to look across, and there is her great-great-grandmother. She says hello to her. 

Next to her mother and father's headstone is a large rock she bought at the same time she bought the bench. She had her oldest sister's ashes moved to the inside of the rock.

Next to my aunt's name is my mother's without a date of death. 

"Is it strange to see your name, or where you're going to be buried?" I ask her. “Not at all. I feel good about it," she says. 

I think she also feels good that as a single parent she has taken care of one of the last details. I don't have to worry about where she would want to go or how I'd pay for it. (Kind of like how she paid most of my college tuition and my wedding, too.) These are her last moments of single-parenthood pride. 

We go on to my cousin who died as a baby, then to my mother's middle sister, and finally an uncle. I notice a doctor buried next to my aunt. His flower holder has a real cactus in it. A caregiver at the mausoleum tells us it blooms once a year. 

When my mom and I finish the visits, we go off to lunch. She’ll be back again to Holy Hope during Christmas and again on Mother’s Day. "It’s good you’ll know where everyone is buried," she says. I think she also likes having the company.

I think about the little space she has reserved for her ashes in the rock. She wants to make sure someone keeps coming to the cemetery. She wants to make sure everyone is remembered. 

I think of my two cousins and me coming out to the cemetery as we get older, each taking a turn getting fake flowers at the arts and crafts store. These female traditions of remembering the dead left again to three women just like my mother and her two sisters. I hope we don't let them down.

The Tucson Police Department's photo-radar van will be in the following areas on Tuesday, Nov. 6:

• 7 to 9 a.m.: Miles Exploratory Learning Center, 1400 E. Broadway Blvd.
• 9:30 to 1:30 p.m.: On Campbell Avenue near Broadway Boulevard
• 2 to 4 p.m.: The Tucson Police Department posted that the van would be at Prince Elementary, 3700 N. Stone Ave. The only school by that name we can find, however, is LM Prince Elementary School which is at 125 E. Prince Road. Just don't speed at either place, and you should be covered!
• 4:30 to 8 p.m.: On 14th Avenue between Grant Road and Glenn Street

The Tucson Police Department's photo-radar van will be in the following areas on Monday, Nov. 5:

• 7 to 9 a.m.: Mesquite Elementary School, 9455 E. Rita Ranch Rd.
• 9:30 to 1:30 p.m.: On Craycroft Road near 22nd Street
• 2 to 4 p.m.: School crossing on Sarnoff Drive near Kenyon Drive
• 4:30 to 8 p.m.: On Kenyon Drive near Sarnoff Drive

... in Arizona, so reports CNN.

Thoughts?

Here are a few events that were not included in our print issue:

• Saturday, Nov. 3 at 11:30 a.m.

  Tucson Fun and Adventures Office

  3255 E. Grant Road

  Membership Meeting. Singles can check out Tucson Fun and Adventures, which offers hiking, mixers, parties, dancing and travel events. Free. Call 256-3866 for info.

• Monday, Nov. 5 from 5 to 7 p.m.

  University of Arizona Student Union Gallery

  1303 E. University Drive, Third floor

  Post Secret. An opening reception of Post Secret, an interactive community art project, will take place. The exhibit continues through Saturday, Dec. 15. For more information, visit www.union.arizona.edu/gallery or call 621-6142.

• Tuesday, Nov. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m.

  University of Arizona Student Union Gallery

  1303 E. University Drive, Third floor

  Odyssey Storytellers. Listen to six storytellers tell stories on the theme of secrets. Free. Call 621-6142 for info.

• Wednesday, Nov. 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

  Hilton El Conquistador

  10000 N. Oracle Road

  SEBA Northwest Launch. Learn about SEBA, which offers small businesses the opportunity to network and partner with other Tucson companies through networking events and monthly mixers. RSVP at www.sebatucson.com/northwest.