Super Bowl Super Day

Besides our son's wedding in December, I think my husband has stayed alive if for nothing else than to watch our beloved Packer's play in the Super Bowl.  Don't ask why (that is a whole other story) he is a die hard Cheese Head.  Yes, we own two.  I have been brought into the cult as well.  Green Bay is the only team in the NFL that is owned by the town.  There is a 25-30 year wait for season tickets.  They have not cheerleaders.  They are strictly in it for the love of the game.  Patrick has been to Lambeau Field to see a game and he says it was amazing.  He has already gotten a balloon and coozie from a friend with the Packers' emblem on it.  Thanks Rudy.  And we are anxiously awaiting kick off.

Patrick is a lot like the Packers.  They have both had their bats with hard luck, made mistakes and angered fans. But, the fans keep coming back each year.  That is why today I have decided to take this opportunity to tell you a bit more about the struggle we have faced. In my first blog, I told you about the kidney failure and the 3 minutes of code blue.  But what I didn't tell you was how this struggle has reunited our family.  Two years earlier, my husband and I had faced a monster which had divided us.  We, rather I, had had enough and wanted out after 28 years of marriage.  Growing up on East Slattery in Shreveport, Louisiana I had no idea I was poor until I got older.  Sr. Margaret Rose told me I would be nothing more than a sales clerk at J.C,. Penny and there was no reason for me to go to college.  But, I worked hard as did Patrick and we became blessed.  Financially, we looked great on paper, but our family was a shamble.  It is true that money doesn't buy happiness.  We grasped at straws to try to put it back together, but it meant hitting rock bottom before we could claw our way out of a huge hole.  After a year and a half of intensive counseling, both couples and individual, we were on the right track again.  And, this hits.  We came together as a family.  A miracle...... our children were so angry with their father.  I can't say I blame them.  I was too. Some may think well maybe God is punishing him for what he did.  I, however, do not feel that God, mine, yours or anyone's would bring this upon someone for retribution.  This last Christmas, our daughter told Patrick that it was amazing how something so good could come out of something so awful.  But, we were happy.  Laughter filled the house.  Gifts didn't matter, family for the first time was the most important thing.  It was wonderful to see everyone come together.  I guess we are like the Packers we took some hard hits and came back.  Like a football team, it took lots of hard work and retraining.  Our pre season training lasted longer but like a team we had to adjust and reinvent plays that would work.

Today the Packers will face the Steelers.  Now, I have been in Texas long enough to remember the Love Ya Blue days with the Houston Oilers now the Tennessee Titans when the Steelers were our arch rivals.  They were thought of as poor sports who did not play fair.  And, I guess some of that still remains in my blood.  So, even if I were not a Packer Backer, I would be cheering Green Bay onto victory.  But, in football, like life there are no guarantees.   Someone is bound to fumble or miss a catch, the quarterback may be caught off guard.  But the game [life] will go on..  The players will adjust and the game will continue.  I have to admit today my money is on both the Packers and Patrick.  We've taken some licks but are still looking for victory.
Go Green Bay beat Pittsburgh........Go Patrick beat Cancer.