You Learn to Love it...Football

Happy 36th Anniversary to my Husband Gary! Yes, our Anniversary is on Monday, September 27th. One of my FaceBook Friends, Lauren Anderson offered up a suggestion for this blog...Husbands, Wives, and Football. This ones for you Lauren! First, I will have to give all of you a little background information about my relationship with football. My husband Gary and I met at a High School dance after a home football game. He then asked me to be his date for the Homecoming Dance coming up. Back then, they held the Homecoming Parade on Friday afternoon, before the Homecoming Game that night. He was to ride on a float with the Football Team and we had planned to meet back at the High School afterwards, where I had to catch my bus ride home. I didn't see him on the float, but there were a ton of boys on it, so I didn't think much of it, at the time. When he stood me up at the school later, I was more than a little mad. Just who does he think he is, standing me up? That night I was at the Homecoming Game sitting on the bleachers, when a schoolmate asked me who I was going to the Homecoming Dance with. Now, this was a big deal for me, because I, a lowly Froshman had been asked by an Upperclassman. I turned to her and replied, "Gary McCullough". Suddenly, behind me came a voice that said, "oh, no your not". I looked at this girl, who looked to be a couple of years younger, perhaps a Junior High student, and said, "Just who are you, and how do you know I'm not going to Homecoming?" She got a smile on her face and told me, "I am his sister, Tammy and he's in the hospital". You could have knocked me over with a feather. What a little snippet! And, so began my love/hate relationship with Football. Later, I found out that he had received a blow in football practice that had bruised his kidney. So, no Homecoming Dance for me. That next day I was feeling pretty sorry for myself when I got the bright idea of getting dolled up in my Homecoming Dress and making a visit to see him at the hospital, that evening. I will never forget the look of surprise and delight on his face when I walked into that hospital room. His Mother was there and I was introduced to my future Mother-in-Law, Janece McCullough, who promptly left the room to let us talk. We had a very nice time and it was actually the first time that we had spent much time together. We both were painfully shy. I was fourteen and he was sixteen. I decided right then and there that he was worthy of a second chance from me. Four years later, we were married on a Friday night, yes, it was the evening of the Homecoming game. Five years later, we had our son Frank on a Friday, and his Dad had a football game to broadcast that evening too. We were living in Hoopeston at the time, where Gary was working at the local Radio Station.
Lauren asked me to talk about being a "Football Widow". I will have to admit, when I was much younger, I felt that way, sometimes. As I have gotten older, not so much, anymore. I always loved the "Football atmosphere" of home games. When our kids were younger, our home was the "go to" house, you know, the house where all the kids "go to", after school. I always had a "big pot" of something cooking in the kitchen to feed the hungry hoards. I miss those days, but am looking forward to the Grandkids doing the same, someday.
Now, as for "The Bears" and Sunday football games.... I have always regarded those days as "sacred" and I don't bug the men. I never have understood wives that give their husbands "honey do" lists and actually expect them to get the jobs done. Give your husbands a break Wives. Unless you have a toilet overflowing or a busted water pipe flooding your home, leave them alone. On Sundays the guys head out to the Gazebo where they enjoy the peace and quiet. At half-time they usually head out to Subway or for a beer run. I usually have the game on in the house while I am cooking, doing laundry, or cleaning. Yes, I can watch the game and do other things at the same time. I am after all, a woman, a multi-tasker. Men are not multi-taskers and unless you want something really messed up, leave them alone. They are not capable of watching the big game and watching a small child. Especially if you want that said child to be alive in a few hours. That is a simple fact. Life is Football..it is the end all and the be all. The sooner you realize this, the better off you will be. Now, this Monday night is the big game, yes, it is "The Bears" and the packers. (You noticed I did not capitalize their name, it is a dirty word in our house.) I will not expect any sort of "Anniversary" special event. I have learned my place in thirty six years and it is not in front of the television. So, Happy Anniversary to me. I just hope "The Bears" win or it will be a sad day on Tuesday..
Now, in honor of our Wedding Anniversary, I would like to make a special announcement..we are going to be Grandparents again in March. Daughter Ashley and her husband Jimmy are going to be giving us another Grandchild. Jack Andrew will be a big brother. And, I can assure you that this child, along with the rest will NEVER and I mean NEVER be seen in any packer clothing. Someone made that comment to my husband a few years back and I recall him muttering something to the tune of..."when hell freezes over." Go Bears!