Thinking Back

This post is going to be a little long. Get some coffee.

Something reminded me about football today, and I took a trip down memory lane. Ever since I graduated from college, I've attended home games at Georgia with my dad. He and I have a very specific routine. Drive to Athens. Eat at the Taco Stand. Visit bookstore, rub my name (for luck) on the plaque listing the 2000 graduates. (Well, the ones who paid $25 to have their names printed anyway.) Go to game, eat pizza at Peppino's. Drive home listening to the Fifth Quarter show till it's nothing but static. Sometimes it's just the two of us, other times my mom and my sister or Sean and my brother come along. This is my favorite part of fall.

It always makes me a little sad that I'm not in college anymore, but reliving the memories is good too. I always think back to the first game I can remember going to with my dad. We drove up with my Aunt Robin and Uncle Ken (my dad's brother). I remember we were playing Baylor, and my mom sent us with a pink paper bag full of boiled peanuts. It was a long time ago--the end of the stadium closest to the Tate Center wasn't even closed in yet. I don't remember the score, but we beat Baylor good. At some point, my dad tried to talk me into leaving early (maybe 5 minutes). I don't much hurry for anyone; the only thing I do fast is talk, and my dad foresaw a long walk back to the car. He got me to the top of the steps, but I wouldn't leave till the game was over. I know I was little, but it's one of my favorite memories. I think that's the day I decided I was going to college at UGA.

In the photo above: My dad and brother, Zach, with UGA football coach Mark Richt. I couldn't go to this function because I was in the ATL airport for seven hours that day trying to get to Arkansas. Long story.