Every story, new or ancient --
You might be a Green Bay Packer fan if:
A few years ago, I was wandering our downtown shops with my brother and his wife, buying a few Christmas presents. Our downtown has mainly small shops, very amenable to browsing, many family-owned and staffed. We saw this t-shirt hanging in the window of a shop that specialized in collectibles and knick-knacks. It was a little out of character for the shop, but it caught our attention.
"Hey, brother, Dad would wear this."
"Um, but I already bought him a present from the bookstore. So did you."
"My kids don't have anything for him yet. They'll love it."
"You two need to buy this. Your dad would definitely wear it."
So we headed into the store, asked for the Cheesehead shirt in a large, and the owner found one and wrapped it up for us. As he did so, he told us a story. Brett Favre and his mother, Bonita, had a new book out (Yes, I own a copy). Bonita had been at the bookstore down the street for an autograph session just a few weeks earlier. One of the fans in line had been wearing a shirt like this. She laughed at the image, said she loved it, and asked where he'd bought it. She then sent a family member down the street to buy a St. Brett shirt for her and one for her sister.
We included a note with the gift telling our Dad that he was in good company, that Brett's mom and aunt both owned shirts just like his. He was thrilled.
Dad passed away last December. We went through his Packer apparel (he had a lot!) and divided it up between us. Amigo now proudly wears the St. Brett, Patron Saint of Cheeseheads. And when people tell him how cool it is, he responds with a thanks and an acknowledgement that yes, if Mom Favre can wear one, it must be cool.
Stumble It!
- You have so much Green and Gold in your wardrobe you wear it all week and year round.
- Your team shirts are both official NFL sanctioned -- and unofficial.
- The unofficial pieces are more fun.
- Everything piece you wear has a story.
A few years ago, I was wandering our downtown shops with my brother and his wife, buying a few Christmas presents. Our downtown has mainly small shops, very amenable to browsing, many family-owned and staffed. We saw this t-shirt hanging in the window of a shop that specialized in collectibles and knick-knacks. It was a little out of character for the shop, but it caught our attention."Hey, brother, Dad would wear this."
"Um, but I already bought him a present from the bookstore. So did you."
"My kids don't have anything for him yet. They'll love it."
"You two need to buy this. Your dad would definitely wear it."
So we headed into the store, asked for the Cheesehead shirt in a large, and the owner found one and wrapped it up for us. As he did so, he told us a story. Brett Favre and his mother, Bonita, had a new book out (Yes, I own a copy). Bonita had been at the bookstore down the street for an autograph session just a few weeks earlier. One of the fans in line had been wearing a shirt like this. She laughed at the image, said she loved it, and asked where he'd bought it. She then sent a family member down the street to buy a St. Brett shirt for her and one for her sister.
We included a note with the gift telling our Dad that he was in good company, that Brett's mom and aunt both owned shirts just like his. He was thrilled.
Dad passed away last December. We went through his Packer apparel (he had a lot!) and divided it up between us. Amigo now proudly wears the St. Brett, Patron Saint of Cheeseheads. And when people tell him how cool it is, he responds with a thanks and an acknowledgement that yes, if Mom Favre can wear one, it must be cool.
Labels: family life, Funday Sunday, NaBloPoMo, Packers
Stumble It!
posted @11:29 AM
4 Comments:
The two games the pack won that season was on my birthday, and on the day after his funeral, I say it's because we have some kind of spiritual connection to the team. Freaky huh?
Once again, proof that godman is a packer fan.
Hmmmm...true, one of their rare wins last year came immediately after the funeral for the, um, original wearer of this shirt. Divine intervention? Or just the sound of the entire crowd shouting "One More Year!"
I still remember when I taught at the University of St. Thomas and a student from Green Bay came in with his cheese tie. The Vikings were playing the Packers and one (MN) student assued the tie wearer, "you're going to eat that cheese tie...." (I don't remember the outcome!)
The tone of monday classes are often determained by the outcome of the sunday game.
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