He said this to me while he was at his Mimi's house. My Mother. I was probably staring at Dax in total shock. LOL. I could feel the smile pop up on "Mimi's face w/o having to even look at her. He caught me so off guard that I was (in a kinda of laughing inappropriate way) saying "Dax, honey, why? You LOVE watching the games with you Dad or Mama?" (We watch in different rooms - Clint paces shouts the WHOLE time, where's I'm more of the silent type unless we make a big play). "You love watching Nova or Spirit fly over the stadium. UA's mascot might be cool but they don't even have one in person. That's not fun." (sorry my UA fans) I was just running off with the most ridiculous things to him as to why he really didn't want to be a UA fan.
When I got around to actually ask the right and serious question. Which was, "what changed your mind?" (My mom listening to all this not saying a word with an interesting grin, said "FINALLY!"
His answer, A girl...A GIRL? Actually I'm not surprised, but just GREAT, Absolutely PERFECT!! That's what I get. After all I've done... :o) What would I mean by that?
I grew up an Auburn fan a pretty moderate one BUT since my parents were Tide fans, I grew up rooting for BAMA when they weren't playing Auburn but never when they played each other (my parents did the same and actually sent their son to Auburn. To be truthful I was 1st an Alabama fan (while Bear was still alive, I remembered when he died like yesterday - Sad day for many Football fans across the nation - I'd think). Actually I take that back I was very young and liked all watching games (at that time) I can't say I was a UA fan, I was just a "P.Bear Bryant fan. B/c my parents had a HUGE book of his that I loved. I remember my mother's face when she found out on the news? from talk? don't now. I just remember it well.
However at the same time, my Uncle, who was die hard back then and is still a big AU fan, brought my brother 1st then I followed suit over to the "Right" side. Or the Dark side a Tide fan would say. He was just too cool and made it too fun and so did my Aunt, his wife, who would make us the coolest craftiest things in Auburn. This was b/f his daughters Leah and Tracey were born. So we were close with my Uncle and Aunt. Still are. Just don't see each other as much.
In my family it was all lovingly/friendly rivalry. Jokes. Funny too. Zero hate rivalry. May be hard to believe but if you think about it when that's the nature of some people and your family how could just a game bring around hard feelings. That's what it's like in - how does the phrase go? family divided? With our family anyways. It was that way with our UA friends too. It was just always fun and games. Until...
NOW, fast forward to adulthood. I started dating my husband in 1999 and he's the biggest (not only football fan) but Auburn fan I've ever met. So much so that it's an all year issue. Football season seems to never end at our house b/c he's constantly watching possible recruits not just for Auburn but for other teams so he'll know who Auburn will be facing. It's has been at times overwhelming for me who's an AU fan in the sense if Auburn's not winning I'll turn it off b/c I can't stand to see them lose. But, it's just a game and a day later I'm over it. For the most part.
Difference is, where he's from the rivalry with the exception to several people was quite ugly. Being around not only some of these people but now you have social media and Paul Finebaum, the killing of our trees. Hard feelings set in and I admit b/c of certain friends loving that rivalry being pure hate as I say. I just don't look at them the same. AU fans too, but if I'm honest. You know the rival team's uglier fans bother you more than our own. But I think it says a lot about the person. No matter what side your own. This applies to me too as you'll see below. I'm can't pass judgment on anyone from my actions.
MANY friends. Even my best friend and to show you how bad... :) On the day he was born and she held him for the first time - what does she do? She starts singing Bama's fight song to him. HA. (Sorry Jen I cannot find the pic of when she was doing this). Wish I had video as proof. So I knew from that moment if even my best friend/maid of honer/former roommates at three different residences would do that....GAME ON!
For Clint's sake I was going to make sure WarrrRRRR EAGLE, HEY! GO TIGERS! was going to stay in the family. Though Jen made me laugh with her fight song antic. The jokes had been coming ever since our Tide fans knew we were going to have a boy. Due to Clint or us both, I'll never know. So I began what seemed like a never ending journey to raise this kid Orange in Blue.
8 months pregnant I started on Dax's room. Yes,8 mons. prego and is the only time my ankles swelled and blood pressure went up. Let me tell you it was a lot of work. Clint offered to help but I like to work alone b/c I can be a task master or a perfectionist and Clint doesn't have the patience for the room I had envisioned.
Besides he did help for all of 10 mins. before a mosquito flew in and got stuck to the paint and Clint just kept right on painting over the mosquito... So below is the work in progress on D's room (pictures that show you how much effort and tape this took)
Lots and lots of 3M,WORK,PATIENCE AND TIME for an 8 mos pregnant chic
Actually, I finished and though we were still waiting on furniture at 9 mons, this is what it looked like when I was so exhausted and eaten up with migraines it's hard to believe I worked up to the day before my due date.
Then there was the games and the CLOTHES. 2/3rds of Dax's clothes are Auburn OR Orange and/or Blue.
EVEN when he got a spiral fracture going down a slide. Totally Ridiculous - though he chose the colors himself...
He was in my lap and on the way down stuck his foot out and the rubber of his shoe caught the slide. While we were going down. It's more dangerous to go down a slide with your child in your lap then to send him down himself. I SO did not think of that.
There are so many pictures of Dax in Auburn clothes I had to pick. Probably put too many. Even Dax's first school picture K-4 we REPRESENTED with his white jersy. Which for some reason won't let me post. UGH. Computers...
So here I am pleading with him while my Mom the Tide fan was enjoying this as SWEET justice. Obviously for my Motherly betrayal to her's and Dad's team.
After saying (smiling/joking of course) Dax: "AU good, UA bad." I finally got serious with him and said, "Dax you can cheer for what ever team you want." Just as long as they not playing Auburn. j/k
He was smiling b/c he knew Mama was playing. To me this is another reminder that Football is just A GAME NOT A RELIGION. And even though I'd long been jaded towards my beloved football and stopped caring as much due to the ugliness in the Rivalry. Social Media and Paul Finebaum has opened my eyes and in them is nothing more than JERRY SPRINGER. I'm thankful to God for this reminder. That is the reason my Uncle though still a big fan is not the die hard he was. He found God. Same for my Brother.
Now I admit with all three of us the line get's blurred b/c we are "UA/AU the SEC's pride" for the most part. For now anyways even if we lost that game. So UA fans were very happy about that but I know some that wasn't. It doesn't make sense to me. To not want your state SEC champs if your team didn't get that chance.
But I want my son to worship God, not football like we seem to do especially in my previous actions. I'm still buying season tickets this year in an attempt to remind him how much he already loves AU. But more importantly because, coming from a Mother his mind simply b/c of a girl that he wants to be friends with worries me to no end. Wouldn't it you?
And in case your wondering. His favorite color is still Blue. and he's still AU - For now ;)
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