Philly Fever!

“……To have and to hold,

In sickness and in health,

Bob will always have his Eagles season tickets

For as long as we both shall live.”

I looked at Bob who was mouthing my wedding vows as I spoke them, eyes wide with anticipation, and he smiled.

“Okay, great.  Now don’t forget – if I die the tickets go to my first-born son.  Or I guess my first-born child.  I guess we will wait to see who takes to the birds with me.  But they always stay in the family.  Okay?”

“Sure.”

And on Bob went, planning our lives as we continued to talk.  His, mine and the Philadelphia Eagles.

 

I married a Philadelphia Eagles fan.  Really, I married a lover of all Philadelphia sports.  I’ve witnessed Philly’s big wins and the big losses through my marriage.  (Just in case you were wondering, the worst loss was the Eagles loss to the Tampa Bay Bucs in 2003.   Bob was so upset, I thought a family member had died.  Turns out it was a family member named “Eagles dream”).

I was not raised a sports fan.  My dad watched sports, but his day was not centered around a game.  So, this whole thing was new to me.

In this area, I am pretty laid back.  I don’t watch much TV – Bob can have it.  So, I do vicariously end up watching a lot of sports.  And I catch the “Philly fever” when a team is exciting.

Bob also loves to meet the players and collect autographs.  I don’t mind.  And occasionally, if the situation is right and I like the player – I tag along.  I’ve met my share of Phillies and Eagles.  It can be pretty exciting.

And so came the city’s biggest win.  The Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl.  My Philadelphia sports fan cried tears of joy in the big win he had waited so long for.  For days.  I could probably get the big softie to shed a couple right now if I brought the big win up again.

I won’t.  At least not right now.  Maybe later.

With the big win came time for the big autographs.  And when the tickets were bought I heard myself saying, “When you go meet Carson Wentz and Nick Foles, can I come too?”

And the big softie got all excited and threw his hands in the air, “Of course!  We will go as a family!”

And that was the plan.  Until the big day came.

 

“Hello,” I said as I sat in the car and looked in the backseat at Declan who was firmly strapped into his seat.

“Robyn, I don’t think this is a good idea.”

I turned forward and answered, “Why?  What’s wrong?”

“It is just so crowded.  And loud.  And chaotic.  The organizers are so abrupt.  I don’t think Declan will do well here.  It will be too much for him.”

“Really?” I asked and hunched a little, “Bummer.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry.  Nick Foles couldn’t get here today though because of the weather.  He will be rescheduled to a later day.  Maybe we can all go to see him.”

“Okay,” I said and undid my safety belt, “make sure you get lots of pictures.”

 

I didn’t get to meet Carson Wentz.  Or the five other players they met that day.

I loved the pictures they got and was happy to listen to all their stories.

And when Nick Foles came to town and was scheduled to sign in a semi-private event – we felt THIS one was one Declan could probably do.

Thankfully, Bob got tickets right away so we were one of the firsts in line.  We shuffled devices and phones and occupied the kids time until it was our turn.  And we got to meet the MVP.

So, I didn’t get to meet Carson or some of the other exciting players that Bob and the big kids did.  Declan probably would not have done well there and I would never put him in a position that would cause him distress or pain.

But, I did get to meet the MVP.  And it was pretty exciting!