As I think about a new year, I always look a little inward. Who am I? What am I doing here on this large rock floating through the solar system? What do I want to do differently? I have thought a lot about failing at writing regularly here, so I have come up with a theme for all twelve months. I hope you enjoy this journey as I attempt to post weekly: 52 posts in 2022. Happy Reading.
January Theme: Who am I?
I AM A PACKER FAN!
I rarely cry because of sports. I remember only two times, in fact, where I cried at a sporting event, believe it or not. I have yelled, I have swore, I have jumped up and down and have felt a palate of emotions, but only twice have I ever cried over sports. (Side Note: Well, it was two times until recently, hence a blog post. I know....you are now in suspense. That is a writing trick btw!)
The first time crying at sports was at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. For those of you that may be non-sport people, that is where the Green Bay Packers professional football team plays in the National Football League. Going to Lambeau was like going to Mecca, well my very religiously toned down version of Mecca, that is. I have always been a Packer fan. I often joke that when you are from Wisconsin, they will kill you if you don't cheer for the Pack. That my not be true, but it is true that watching and cheering for the Packers is part of most Wisconsinites' DNA and to each of us, it is a little spiritual.
The second time I cried at a sporting event was at Wrigley Field and I won't shed much light on it here. It would make other Wisconsinites judge me. It was about baseball history, not the Cubs, I promise my people.
It's fitting that the last and most recent time I cried about sports was just about a week ago when I opened a Christmas present at a gift exchange with my "adopted" family. My "Brother from Another Mother," Caleb, had drawn my name. I have known Caleb a long time: I was in high school and good friends with his oldest sister, when he was sneaking Superman t-shirts under his church clothes and in kindergarten, when we met. We have always been good friends, in fact, I consider him one of the little brothers I never got to have in my own biological clan. The Packers have always been a big part of our friendship! Without me, I don't think he would have had a much of a chance of becoming a Packer fan because his parents were Wisconsin implants and not into pro football at all. But Caleb liked to watch with me and he still tunes in each week. In fact, he may even be a bigger Cheesehead than I am.
As I took the present from his hands and jokingly said "It's a puppy," I had no idea what was in that package and when I ripped off the decorative paper, I was in utter shock.
As I opened to the inside of the folder, I instantly knew what was purchased for me, I was in complete shock.
"What the.....? This is expensive"
Caleb responded: "We all did it!"
I looked around at these wonderful humans, these people that were friends but more they are the family that I have chosen to be in my life. The ones who always make me feel that I am welcomed and a part of all their family functions. I instantly, in that crazy-surprising moment, had tears streaming down my face and was speechless....then I had to pee because I also was laughing at myself for crying over one stock in Green Bay Packers, Inc. It really is just a 300 dollar piece of paper...yet...it really isn't...I am a part of the team. I can go to the yearly shareholder's meeting with the thousands of other "owners." I am part of something big. See, no other sports team on the planet is owned by it's fans, usually teams are owned by one rich owner.
That isn't the only thing that was cry worthy though. See, that gift exchange has a max of $40. And guess how much a share of the Packers was going for? $300 dollars. These kind and wonderful humans pooled their money to buy me this amazing present. Definitely cry worthy.
Well, so there you have it. 66% of the times I have cried over sports have been over The Green Bay Packers. So, I guess there is just only one thing left to say: "GO PACK GO!" Oops, and thank heavens for friends who are chosen family, that is important too!
