This time of year, I get a kick out of friends who have
transplanted to Florida and feel the need to taunt those of us in chillier
states about the “paradise” in which they live.
They temporarily forget that they also live in the state with the worst
drivers and the most miserable summers (I almost added “and little Marco Rubio”
but decided to keep this post non-political).
Being a transplant myself, having lived in Minnesota – land of
tater-tot hotdish and icehouses and SuperAmerica – longer than I lived in my
native southern New Jersey – land of cheesesteaks and the Jersey Shore and Wawa
-- I hope that most transplants find ways to stay loyal to their roots…
… which somehow this week brings me to the topic of
football.
Growing up in the shadow of Philadelphia, the natural
tendency is to be a Philadelphia Eagles fan, although there are some bizarre
exceptions to that rule (Think: goofballs such as Cowboy-loving Chris Christie). Living in Minnesota and surrounded by a sea
of purple, it’s not hard to become a Minnesota Vikings fan, and the Vikings
became my #2 team when Minnesota became my adopted home. Jerry and I had Vikings season tickets for a
number of years, and I would enthusiastically cheer for them unless they were
playing the Eagles, in which case I’d wear my Eagles gear to that game, of
course…
… which brings me to this weekend’s game between the Eagles
and the Vikings, the NFC Championship Game.
One team will go home after the game and the other will go
on to the SuperBowl here in Minneapolis in two weeks. In a way, it will be a win-win and also a
lose-lose for me, however it turns out.
Without question, I’m 100% for the E-A-G-L-E-S! Let me say this, though. The stereotype “Minnesota
nice” has the reputation of being a thin-layered fake niceness, but I have
found deep friendships here with a lot of wonderful people, and, if the
unthinkable happens and the Vikings somehow win, my consolation prize will be
seeing all those smiles around me. And
somebody has to go beat the dreaded Patriots.
Enjoy the game.
Personally, I’ll be a wreck.
