Super Bowl...

Who won the Super Bowl in 1988? I know that the Denver Broncos played in that game because we were living in Colorado Springs and were at a friend’s house for a party. Heather was just barely a month old. I did not remember what team they played I just remember that they lost of course. The Broncos lost to the Giants 20 to 39.

Who won the Super Bowl in 2009? I know that the Arizona Cardinals played with Kurt Warner as the quarterback. It was a very busy weekend at our house as Wendy’s baby shower was Saturday and then we hosted a huge Super Bowl party on Sunday afternoon. Again, I honestly do not remember what team the Cardinals played I just remember that they lost. The Cardinals lost to the Steelers 23 to 27 in the last few minutes of the game.

As this year’s Super Bowl came along I really did not care if I watched it or if I didn’t. I had a reason for both teams to win, Denver so that Manning could show the Colts they made a huge mistake by trading him, but then Seattle has never won a Super Bowl so that would be nice for them to win. I could watch the game or I could go to a movie just as well I really had no big affection to watch the game. But as today, Super Bowl Sunday, went on Wendy, Sunnie and Snookie wanted to hang out and watch the game. That was just fine with me. Now what to do for dinner, of course there has to be food.

I had mentioned one idea for food but that did not really sound good to me so I went with traditional football food, homemade chili. As I got my big stew pot out and began to brown the ground beef I was transported back to the sounds and smells of another Super Bowl when life was good. I made chili with cornbread for the big Super Bowl party we had here in 2009. It was the single’s group that Jenn and Heather were a part of and we ended up with about 35 people here. The snacks were gone and chili had been served up and the game was in full swing. People were everywhere but my kitchen duties were finished. It was the 4^th quarter and as I scanned the room to find Heather to make sure she was okay, I noticed she was nowhere to be found. I went upstairs and found her and Wendy in our room watching the game away from everyone downstairs.

The game was over, Cardinals lost, time moved forward and life as I knew it changed forever. What was interesting was that two different friends of mine that had been at the shower noticed that Heather looked sad with a distant longing in her expression. Like she knew her time was very short. I was not told this at the time. As I have looked back at photos the friends were right, there was a distance and sadness in her eyes.

Something as simple as a Super Bowl can bring back a flood of memories to me. The 1990 Super Bowl was just two weeks after the death of my Daddy, Jim. The Denver Broncos were again in the game and we had a few friends over to the house for a small party. I was pregnant with Wendy and was not feeling terrific. As the party broke up so everyone could go to Sunday evening church service I decided to stay home. I began to wonder then who would win the game and then thought to myself that my Daddy already knew who won or lost the game. I did not even remember that the Broncos played in this game and once again the Broncos lost to the 49ers 10 to 55.

There are so many people that get really upset and nasty over the Super Bowl. It is said to be one of the highest domestic violence days of the year. To me, honestly, it is a game and no one will remember who won or who lost in 2 years. It really is not something to get upset over. Our family likes the Denver Broncos, sorry but we were in Colorado Springs for 7 years, it was kind of a requirement to live in the state. Heather bought Bill a Bronco sweat jacket for Christmas her last year. Bill wears it all the time to feel close to Heather. Because of the events of the game today, Bill may have to put his jacket aside for a few weeks just not to be harassed. Not that he minds, but this is something special to him as the last gift from his daughter.

Jenn and Heather as babies would wear Denver Bronco tshirts. After church I would take their dresses off and leave their tights on. The ones with the ruffles on the butt. We would have lunch, watch the first quarter and then it was naptime. I have many fun memories of the girls wearing their Broncos shirts. So while the country is tearing apart the Broncos for playing so badly, to me the memories go much deeper than just one game. It is a family tradition that means a lot to us. Heather loved her Broncos for better or for worse. After all isn’t that what a true fan does? Loves and supports their team no matter win or loss?