Bucket List

Once I graduated college - I had 4 things on my "things to do before I die" list.

1) See a game in (the original) Yankee Stadium.
2) See Brett Favre play at Lambeau Field.
3) Get married.
4) Enjoy the benefits of being married. ;)

I knew that if I was going to see Favre at Lambeau, I had to get on it. The media has been pressuring him about retirement for a while now. (He's announced his retirement twice, came back once - so far.)

My dad agreed to go with me, but we had to make it in one weekend. $300 for tickets and a room. I wanted this - badly! Luckily for me, they were playing my 2nd favorite team in the NFL, the Arizona Cardinals.

We drove all day Saturday (14 hours) and arrived in time to check into our hotel and catch dinner.

The next morning was the big game.



I had prepared for "Ice Bowl" conditions - but it turned out to be around 50 degrees. I swear 50 degrees in Wisconsin is colder than 50 in Tennessee.

I decided to root for whichever team was on offense. Since the Packers were winning the game, the fans didn't boo me too much for my double-minded nature.

My dad decided to get a packet of stickers for my niece, but when he returned to his seat we figured out that they were temporary tattoos instead of stickers.

I took them, went to the bathroom, and put them on my face to show my loyalty.

And while I was gone Brett Favre scored a touchdown.

And did his first Lambeau leap.

Ever.

Did I mention I was in the bathroom???

I've since forgiven my father (I think) and we both really enjoyed the game.

On the bus ride back to the hotel (it was around 5 in the afternoon) my dad got a call from his boss. He had to be at work at 7 the next morning. We drove all night and only stopped for a few bathroom breaks.

I drove the first shift because I have trouble staying awake. Then when it was Daddy's turn to drive I crawled to the very back of the van, covered up in a blanket and went to sleep.

He woke me up when he pulled over to the shoulder of the interstate quickly. Apparently he had pulled into a rest stop to use the bathroom, and when he came back he just glanced in the back to see if I was back there.

About 5 minutes down the road, he got paranoid that I wasn't under the blanket that he saw, and pulled over.

Is it any wonder I'm a worry wart? I was trained by the best.

I will never forget this weekend with my father. It was our last father-daughter venture. Just weeks before, I had met Mr. Right. But I was glad to have experienced that weekend with the first man I ever loved.

(Which reminds me, I've got to do a Fro Me to You about our father/daughter dance at the wedding - it was classic!)

For more great retro memories, check out Fro Me to You.