Sunday, September 13, 2009

It's Football Season, once again!

Football...you would think that after 40 plus years of having a game on every Sunday, I would know more about this sport than I do. But for me, football is more of a sensory experience, if you will..."let me s'plain":

I was born in Buffalo, and raised by Bills fans from my birth. If I remember correctly, my mom even rode on the back of a very small motorcycle, while pregnant with me, to see a game - it was a looong ride, on a narrow seat, she said!!

Every Sunday found us all in front of the TV, and there was a whole lot of yelling and screaming going on..."GO!!!", "Run, run, run!!", "Can you believe that Reff?!?" I was never particularly into the game, after all, there was instant replay to catch any play that was worth seeing. And there was OJ - back in the good ol' days, when he was a rockin' football player and had a great tv ad that showed him jumping people, chairs and suitcases as he ran through the airport.

After we moved to Atlanta, my parents had to, out of necessity, become Falcons fans...these were pre-cable days, and you could only see the games broadcast for your area. And every Sunday, after church and lunch, you would find my whole family in our living room, around the TV. I usually claimed a corner of the black vinyl, Spanish style sofa (read: black plastic and lots of wood), while my Dad would get the other end, and my mom the loveseat. The boys always claimed the floor, and my little sister, my dad's lap. I always, (always!) had a book and when the weather finally cooled off, would wrap myself in the softest blanket I could find, and zone out in my book, crinkling the plastic library wrap on the book, and listening with one ear to my family watching the game.

And that was football, til I left home to get married. And who did I marry - another football fan! This one, my darling, loves Virginia Tech, and once we moved to Denver, we became Broncos fans too. Once again, every Sunday (and later Monday's - and now...well, whatever day of the week they play - I can't keep it straight anymore!) finds us tuning into The Game. I was even downtown for the parade after the Superbowl one year! How exciting that was!!



Now, I am responsible for "Snacks", and so, instead of getting to read for the whole game, I often find myself in the kitchen, watching the game from across the room, or curled up with the kids, muting (or turning off) commercials that are no longer quite so family friendly.

And there is still a lot of yelling...I finally figured out that it is an acceptable way to really "get loud", and so we do - much to the enjoyment of our kids! Jalapeno decided when he was two, that he wanted to be a football team, when he grows up. Not a football player, but the whole team! A friend said that maybe he will hit so hard, the guy he takes out will say "Man, I feel like I got hit by the whole team!" , and so, his nickname will be Team. We'll see...right now, he won't even defend himself against Pineapple, when he is sitting on his chest and laughing!



So today, as the new season opens, who knows what will happen for our team...and I don't really care. For me, football is a time to gather together, to eat favorite foods, to yell, and laugh, and spend the afternoon together! And to create memories for MY kids, of the days when they used to watch football, with their yelling, screaming, crazy parents!



Hope "your team' does well this season, and that you will make lots of good memories with your family!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

An Officer's Life

An Officer's Life

You wonder why he pulled you over and gave you a ticket for speeding"

He just worked an accident where people died because they were going too fast
_________________________

You wonder why that cop was so mean

He just got done working a case where a drunk driver killed a kid
____________________________________________

You work for 8 hours

He works for up to 18 hours
_________________________

You drink hot coffee to stay awake.

The cold rain in the middle of the night keeps him awake.
__________________________

You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.

He goes into work still hurt and sore from the guy he had to fight the night before
__________________________

You drink your coffee on your way to the mall.

He spills his as he runs code to a traffic crash with kids trapped inside
__________________________

You make sure your cell phone is in your pocket before you leave the house.

He makes sure his gun is clean and fully loaded and his vest is tight
__________________________

You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.

He watches his buddy get shot and wounded in front of him.
__________________________

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.

He walks down the highway looking for body parts from a traffic crash
_________________________

You complain about how hot it is.

He wears fifty pounds of gear and a bullet proof vest in the middle of July and still runs around chasing crack heads
__________________________

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.

He runs out before he gets his food to respond to an armed robbery.
__________________________

You get out of bed in the morning and take your time getting ready.

He gets called out of bed at 2 am after working 12 hours and has to be into work asap for a traffic homicide
__________________________

You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.

His shift ended 4 hours ago and there's no end in sight
__________________________

You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.

He can't make any plans because on his off days he still gets called back into work
__________________________

You yell and scream at the squad car that just past you because they slowed you down.

He's in the driver seat of the squad car, on his way to cut somebody out of their car only to find out that they are dead when he gets there.
__________________________

You roll your eyes when a baby cries in public

He picks up a dead child in his arms and prays that it was crying
__________________________

You criticize your police dept and say they're never there quick enough.

He blasts the siren while the person in front of him refuses to move while talking on their cell phone and doing their makeup.
__________________________

You hear the jokes about fallen officers and say they should have known better.

He is a hero and runs into situations when everyone else is running away in order to make sure no one else gets hurt and loses his life doing it

__________________________

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.

He would take a bullet for his buddy without question
__________________________

You sit there and judge him, saying that it's a waste of money to have them around.

Yet as soon as you need help he is there
___________________________

Thank you all those who sacrifice so much for our sake.
May you come home safe each and every day....

Posted by my friend Angela, who is a Denver Police Officer's Wife
Thanks Rob, for putting it all on the line every day!