Fall & Football...

There is something about Fall... it has always been my favorite.  When the air starts to get that crisp feel... Fall always makes me think about falling leaves, choosing the right pumpkin, cooking a pot of chilli, and football.  I have loved football since I was in high school... High school football is about so much more than the game...it is about teamwork, school spirit, celebrating victories, and pulling together a community to cheer on their team.

Inevitably, Fall football reminds me of high school... I attended my first high school football game in years last night to cheer on a girlfriend's son who is a senior on Oak Creek's team (nice job, Billy!).  Sitting on those cold bleachers, among the other "parents", and watching those young kids play...had me thinking back to my own high school days.  I was a cheerleader in high school...and cheering for football in the Fall was my favorite.  I can see myself, standing on the track around the field on a cool fall evening with the other girls, so proud to wear my orange and black uniform.  I felt like I was a real part of things... I was fortunate to have an activity that I cared about (and was good at), friends to hang out with, and even a particular football player to cheer for.

High school, for me, was easy and carefree and fun.  Those were some of the best years of my life... everything just seemed to always work out for me.  I made the cheerleading squad all four years...and made both the football and basketball squads.  I had an easy time making friends, getting good grades, and meeting boys... I never missed a dance.  Things were just easy.

I think that maybe I didn't appreciate how good I had it then... I took it all for granted...  In those days, my biggest concern was spending time with my girlfriends, whether or not a particular boy liked me, and would I get asked to the next big dance?  I was voted onto prom court and was the homecoming queen my Senior year...things just always worked out.  I could not have asked for a better high school experience...  I wish I had enjoyed those years even more...I wish that I had appreciated how simple things were.  I feel fortunate to have so many great high school memories...and it is nice to be reminded of those times.