Back at the FARM

Twenty-three years later, and yet in many ways, it felt like yesterday. September on the Stanford campus is quite amazing, and not just for the weather, it’s the vibe.  I have said to many people, “Don’t send your kids on a trip to visit Stanford unless you are prepared to send them there.” The campus is extraordinary, such a tremendous amount of history at every turn, both in its architecture and its influence.  I was back at the Farm this past weekend, bringing my kids for the first time, so they could help me relive those special Stanford student moments all over again.

I must admit it was amazing! My kids don’t quite get it, and I’m kind of relieved I don’t have to worry about them turning TREE crazy just yet.  For me, it was literally a stroll down memory lane, from the swim pool to Campus Drive, around the stadium and to the Bookstore. Every single one of these places brought a smile to my face, it’s just special and I recognized it. It’s not just the geography and the scenery, it’s also the people.  In between corralling my kids, I had a chance to watch students, both new and upper classmen.  I saw parents dropping their kids off or walking the student union in awe of the moments as the first year at any college/university is amazing beyond words.  The older students were walking with such purpose.

My move-in moment went like this…I loaded my car and along with my best friend, Heather, and my parents, drove the 2.5 hours from Roseville, CA, south down to Palo Alto.  My freshman dorm was Otero in the Wilbur dorm cluster.  As it was 1990, our awesome furniture was from pre-World War II.  It was solid steel, which meant I couldn't come close to moving it, and it had a fabulous green tint to it.  It was my first space, and half of the room stood as an empty canvas.  Thank goodness I had my MJ posters to work their magic. 

I made use of every square inch of my little abode and with a few tears, said goodbye to my mom, dad and Heather. Scary to think about it now as that moment is a VERY defining moment in my life.  It’s like a crazy cocktail of extreme sadness and utter excitement with a healthy splash of anxiety. WOW, my first moment as a Stanford student brings a few tears to my eyes even now. 

I survived freshman year, barely, thank the lord for swimming. I was in WAY over my head academically, or at least I thought I was, as I just didn't seem to have the courage in the classroom the way I had them in the pool or high school.  Everyone around me was just so damn amazing!! I didn’t room with a swimmer, although Karen did join the water polo team and was super dedicated. Stanford makes it a point to pool all freshmen together for random pairings.  So, it was only by chance if an athlete roomed with an athlete during their first year.  And every weekend, it was all about Stanford football.  We had “Touchdown Tommy”, John Lynch, Glynn Milburn and Steve Stenstrom to name a few.  We had reasons to cheer, and no matter how hard practice was that Saturday morning, we were there for our team on game day.  The seats were wooden and the stadium was not quite as posh as some others, but we didn’t care. It was all about the power of that single letter “S” and being as loud as we could.

On game day this past Saturday, I looked up into the stands and watched the freshmen looking to their upperclassmen for some game cheering guidance.  They have now named the student section, “Nerd Nation”, and those nerds make some noise. It was beautiful college football noise that makes a difference in the game, and it was much louder than my era. (Sorry nerds of the ‘90’s) I was on the field watching the team that I had just spoken to three hours before as their honorary captain, they were getting focused, ready and amped out of their heads.  I felt small.  And I was.  Kids are bigger now…seriously, I said to coach Shaw, “When you introduced me and the team stood up, I felt like a toddler.” Impressive not just in stature, but in the level of respect they show to everyone, themselves included.  I was curiously nervous to talk to the fellas wondering how a 40-year-old mom of two could relate to the incredible Stanford student-athlete of today.  My 7 minutes in front of the guys flew by way too fast.  I wanted to tell them so much more than I did, and when I was done my hands were shaking. I could barely hold myself steady as many of them came up to give me a hug. And that is when it hit me. 

Respect.  Once you wear that Stanford “S”, it doesn’t matter what year it was, how old you are, or how many kids you've popped out, you can transport yourself right back to that stage of life like a superhero. Yep, for about five glorious hours, I was a 19-year-old Stanford swimmer cheering on my football team. Only this time, I was on the sidelines fist pumping those giant men after a great play.  Pinch me now…I still don't believe it.
 I reminisced and loved it.

The end result of my Stanford weekend was a first half on the field, a second half in the stands with my family, and a Sunday morning to soak it all up. And I sopped it up like a full stack of pancakes with pure maple syrup.  Every sweet moment I could take in on campus I did, and it made me love Stanford even more.  It made me cherish that time in my life. Every memory still brings such joy to my face and a giggle in my heart. Magical moments that I will never forget and maybe some day my kids will fully understand.  Maybe. 

The NFL Draft

Watching the NFL draft reminds me of all those years I worked for the NBA and LOVED it. There is a crazy amount of excitement and an amazing sense of innocence from all the players. It is the first time many of us get to meet these big stars, and they are so nervous! To be honest with you, they were so cute. Young, thankful, grateful and innocent.

I know the NFL is big business, but all I've seen at the NFL Draft is emotion - pure and raw. And that is why I, we, watch. The hugs between family members, the tears at the table, and the childhood dreams coming true as young men walk onto the stage to greet Mr. Goodell or answer a phone call from their new team owner. What a moment! And even though there is an incredible paycheck attached, when you break down this draft moment it is beautiful in it’s purest form. It is A DREAM coming true. And under those full beards and 2-300lb frames, they are still the same little boys waiting to get picked to play the game they love!

Once they hit training camp, the game is all business. But on draft night, when Roger Goodell calls their name…at that moment, it means they've made it. It means all of their hard work has paid off. All of their families hard work has paid off. You can see it. You can feel it. And, it is awesome. I have heard draftee’s say, “You get this one moment, you’ve got to go for it.” Go for it and hug whomever you can, cry if you want to, and jump up and down if that’s what makes you happy.

And then, of course, there are the ones that chose to be present at Draft night and did not get drafted. Even thinking about it now makes me cringe. Every time they would show Geno Smith, I would imagine what he was feeling, and I was sad for him. It was brutal to watch him get passed up time and time again. When they put him on TV, he was always looking down at his phone and probably wishing he could hide from the cameras. But he will be better for it. It is just another reminder of how young these men are even though they seem so strong.

We’ve all had our dream moments. For me, it was making the Olympic team and then winning a gold medal. Part of the joy of making the team was getting to enjoy the moment with my family and taking it all in. Draft night is just that, I would imagine. One part of the dream is realized, and they get to pat themselves on the back and relive the moment of their official announcement as a member of the NFL. And then they begin to focus on the second part of their dream… of doing something great with this opportunity both on the field and off. Dreaming of making it to the Pro Bowl, of an MVP season, and being named a Super Bowl Champion all while giving back to the communities around them.

Seeing all those dreams and goals in the smiles of a 21- or 22-year-old when he hears his name called, that's what the NFL Draft is all about!

Football Sunday

Football Sunday is Family Day.

There are no words to describe how much I LOVE football Sunday.  When I think about why I love it so much, I can only bet it is because Sunday was my only day off from training growing up. It was the day when I could sleep in, be lazy, eat whatever I wanted, and spend some time with my family. And let's face it, there really was no better way to hang out and enjoy the day than to listen to the soothing sounds of Chris Collinsworth and Co. talking a little football.  Growing up in Roseville, CA., I was of course a 49ers girl. The local community college, Sierra College, was only about two miles from my front door, and it was the home of the Niners’ training camp every year during my youth. I LOVED it.  There was nothing funnier to me than watching those big linemen trying to squeeze into the giant inner tubes to float around in the swimming pool. Then see them smash people in the fall.

My husband Erik grew up much the same way, spending Sunday’s watching his favorite team with his family during his time away from the slopes. And he grew up in Hamburg, NY. So to put it mildly, he’s a huge Buffalo Bills fan. I lived in NYC for 10 years, and while it wasn’t upstate New York, I did become quite familiar with all the northeast team. So when we join our lives to become a family, I took Erik and his Bills, “for better or worse”.

Which brings me back to Sundays. To me, and to a lot of families across the country, Sunday has always been about relaxed plans and being with family. That's what football is to me. It brings people together in a very uncomplicated and carefree way. Now that we have a family of our own, we gather around the TV together and cheer as a unit. Last Sunday was the first of many where the entire house was cheering, "Go Bills!" and then later, “Go Niners”! Representing both the AFC & the NFC.

Double dates ROCK!

First of all, I realized tonight that I have missed a generation of music videos. I used to watch MTV back when they actually showed videos or even played music but that network has changed...(hello, "16 and pregnant"..I will get to that at a later date.) My point is that tonight, I caught up on a bunch and took a nice little stroll down memory lane.

Tonight we had a bit of a double date. We got together with a couple and their friend to hang out without kids. Nothing super planned or organized. We decided last minute, somehow snagged a sitter and I got a text from my friend right as I was leaving to head to the bowling alley.

I LOVE bowling and we just got a killer new place in Park City called Jupiter Bowl. The couches are comfy, the vibe is perfect and their are video screens everywhere...huge screens. My hubby and I got there early so we got to settle in. We even had a time for a little snuggle. And the game was on...YES. We watched what I consider the best post-season game so far on a HUGE screen and began to sip on one of my favorite beverages..Guinness beer. Life was excellent.

We were then joined by our good friends. It turned into such a fun night full of gutter balls, an occasional strike(everyone got at least one), tons of cheering with consistent high fives and a bit of dancing or swaying to the music.

See, once the football game was over, they turned the music videos on. We saw such an array of videos, it was truly awesome. We saw Nelly and Young MC... Beyonce and Joan Jett..... Salt-n-Pepa and Michael Jackson. I felt like I was transported to Jr high, high school, college and then back again!

And, did you know you can do a fantastic moon walk in bowling shoes? They are the best to make you feel like you have moves. All this fun happened before 10pm. Seriously, I used to be able to stay out late...but I also used to be able to sleep in...now, we are responsible parents! That is when you know you are old...or maybe just tired...when your date starts so early that you are done by 9:30pm. But, tonight was perfect. Beers, Bowling, Football, Music and Wonderful Friends that like to be silly! Life is good.

Why I love football!

My friend came over tonight with her two adorable little boys. Both our hubbies are out of town and we thought it would be fun to survive the mealtime together, which it was. I asked he if she wanted a beer and I proudly pulled out my freezer mugs (so in love with these btw). I then asked her if she liked football. She said she watches it but doesn't understand it. She has watched it for years and nobody has explained it to her. Sad right?! I actually became excited because I wanted to teach her about the sport I love so much.

See tonight was a big game for my hubby, his family and me. We are all Bills fans. My hubby's family is from Buffalo, I am a fan by marriage. Seriously, it was part of our vows. "Do you promise to love, honor and be a Bills fan?" "I Do." And then, it went to him. "Do you promise to love, honor and be a Sacto Kings fan?" "I Do." There you have it. I am a Bills fan and I love it. We try to make it back for a game every year. We missed it this year but 2 years ago we went to the Monday night home game against the Cowboys. Heartache! Absolute heartache.

I told my girlfriend that we could watch the game tonight and I would try to help her understand it a bit better. She wondered how I came to love football. And that is the reason for this post.

I don't officially know the answer but I think the reason why I love football is because my dad and brother loved it. We watched it every Sunday and Monday night. And, there is also the fact that my mom is from Nebraska therefore I can name almost every pro Cornhusker from my adolescence. But now that I think of it, there are other reasons. I only had one day off a week from swimming, Sunday. There is nothing more kick back and fun than football Sunday. I looked forward to chilling with my family. Also, we were Niner fans in the 80's...what is not to love about that?! To go from Montana to Young with Rice in there the whole time. (and Tom Rathman....I could go on) I also love cheering for a team. Football is unlike any other sport in that respect. You get one shot every week (except for bye weeks) to cheer for your team. The season is fairly short and takes place when the weather is cold, rainy or snowy so you want to be inside anyway. Unless you are at the game and then what I love is everything. Tailgate parties, cold weather, crazy fans, load music, the entire package. But, at home, what really gets me are the familiar voices.

Al Michaels has the best football voice ever. And John Madden is the king. Their voices are so relaxing and familiar that it feels like home to me. I love football because it is America. I know it isn't "America's pasttime" but it is my favorite TV sport. I am so happy the season has started. As for my Bills, it was a very sad night. Once again, they lost a game they should have won. The season isn't long enough for mistakes like that.

My friend had to leave before we could review what I was teaching her. I think she might have been overloaded with too much info and too many kid questions but I know she will come back for more. She was excited to call her hubby to tell him she was having beers and watching the Monday night game. I might even be able to convince her to cheer for the Bills...maybe! :)