What a game!

My parents do not like football.  They have never been to a game.  They don't watch them on TV.  I'm fairly certain if I asked my dad who played today, he might be able to be tell me the Mariners...which would make me proud because at least he named a professional sports team...nevermind it wasn't a football team.  The only sport that my dad watches is NHRA drag racing, which is fine!  BUT, many of you may be wondering how I developed my love for the Seahawks in a home that never showed it?!  My grandfather...he was such a great man, and I wanted to spend every free moment I had over at their house.  One big reason was to get out of chores at home, I'm sure, but he was one of my favorite people in the world.  He taught me everything I know about football!  Most Sunday mornings, we would go to church and then I would run through the field to their house.  I would sit at his feet helping my grandma untangle her knitting yarn and would watch the games with him.  ANY game!  He watched football all day, but her absolutely loved his Seahawks.  I loved spending these precious moments with this man that I adored.  And I grew to love football just as much, if not more, than he did.  Football was the last thing I did with my grandpa.  He was in the hospital in January 2001 and I went down to Harrison and sat with him and we saw the Huskies beat Purdue in the Rose Bowl.  He passed away seventeen days later.  My last words to him were football related...and I'm going to hold those words forever in my heart.  Had I known they would be my last words to the man I love so, I might have picked different words, but in their own way, they were perfect...

So, when I married Brian, who loved football as well, I knew that for our first Christmas together I was going to get him season tickets to the Seahawks.  Back then, it was a two-year wait list to get tickets, so I put my name on the waitlist and we waited patiently.  Two years later, we got our tickets!  We were so excited for them...and we went to our first pre-season game together.  But after that, it always seemed that something came up. Brian worked and we couldn't go.  Brian wanted to take other people.  Or, I was pregnant and didn't think hiking up and down the stairs to row NN 100 times to pee sounded like a fun time.  So, I only went to a handful of games in those first years we had our tickets.  In the beginning of the 2010 season, Brian and I went to a preseason night game together and it was the best date we'd ever had.  Pike's Pub for dinner, the game was awesome, we had the best chat ever on the ferry.  It was perfect...then things came up and I didn't go.  When he passed away in October, I panicked and put my Seahawks tickets up for same one game at a time.  I sold them all on Facebook within 20 minutes.  Four of those pairs were bought by friends who took me, and I am forever grateful for those people who showed my mercy and kindness and took me out for a good time when I needed it the most.  You know who you all are and I love you so much!

Once things settled financially and I knew that we would survive, I kept my tickets and started going...I've only missed one home game in the last two seasons and the only game I missed I was deathly ill with a wicked combination of the flu, pneumonia, and bronchitis.  It was Monday Night Football, so that's how sick I was...but this season I went to all of the home games...and, we were undefeated at home...you're welcome! :)  I have my bestie who goes with me to most of the games, and life is good.  Not only is it something that I love, something that takes my mind off of life in general, and something I get to do with my best friend...it's also something that reminds me of my grandfather.  There is not a Sunday that goes by that he doesn't float into my head at some point: pulling on my lucky sweatshirt and socks, watching some Seattle icon raise the 12th Man flag, hearing the roar of the crown from Century Link field...my grandfather lives in all of those moments.  And my love of football grows deeper and stronger as I fight to keep that connections.  Getting teary at one point during tonight's Seahawks game, where they beat the Washington Reskins, Amelia asked me what was wrong.  I told her that football reminded me of my grandpa.  She looked at me and said, "I bet he would have loved me." The tears flowed faster and I replied, "I KNOW he would have loved you."  She smiled and hugged me, and I hugged her back.  My girls cheer for our Seahawks right along side me.  They have never been without Seahawks cheerleader outfits.  They watch the home games with me.  They're gone to Super Bowl parties since they were born.  And I am extremely proud to be passing football traditions down to my daughters.  They're great-grandfather would be so proud also...

FOOD FOR THE DAY:

Breakfast-ish: Leftover  Green Chile and Cheddar Turkey Burger with miracle whip, raspberries and fat free 1/2 and 1/2 with Splenda

Lunch: Bags of Gold appetizers from Safeway...the game was on...they were losing...I go back to work tomorrow...

Dinner: Turkey Sandwich with Miracle Whip and onion, Nacho Cheese Tortilla Popchips

Dessert: Butterscotch See's Candy Gourmet Lollipop  (YUM!)