A Buccaneer fan in Steeler Nation

The view from here today is definitely Black and Gold! The truth is, the view in Pittsburgh year round is Black and Gold. There may be a football season, but in this part of the country you would be hard pressed to identify it if you didn't watch TV. Those treasured jerseys are worn every day. The people around here bleed Black and Gold. Visit my church on any Sunday morning and you will see jerseys in the pews. The church custodian considers it part of his work uniform, AND his dress attire. Meetings, programs, practices--all are scheduled around 'the game'.

The problem is, I am a Buc's fan, first and foremost. I like Red and Pewter. When we first moved here I got excited when I heard the sports guy on the news refer to the Bucs only to discover he meant the Pittsburgh Pirates. Boo. What a way to burst a bubble! I vowed I would stay a Bucs fan no matter what. I even promised a friend she would never see me in a Steelers jersey. So far she hasn't.

Living in Tampa in the 80's and 90's football was more of a hobby for fans, than an extension of their personal lives. Games were never sold out, so if you didn't go to the game you had to listen to it on the radio. I've jokingly said the only time I ever got the ironing done was during football season. Every Sunday I'd set up the ironing board next to the radio and listen to the game. The team wasn't great and lost more games than they won, but I was a fan. Excitement picked up when we welcomed Tony Dungy as team coach. The change was subtle, but the turn around was real. It was exciting to watch the games as the Bucs finally entered the playoffs. It was the beginning of events being scheduled around 'the game'. Even at that point, it wasn't until we won the Super Bowl (a high point in my life!) that I finally noticed the red jersey's appearing in public. Kids were asking for jerseys for Christmas gifts. The average joe wore them shopping. Team spirit was finally becoming tangible.

There is a vast difference between the Steelers and the Buccaneers.  The Bucs were a pretty poor team for many years. And in sunny, warm Florida, there's a lot to do on a Sunday afternoon besides watch football. The Steelers, by comparison are heading to their 8th Super Bowl and has won 6 of them so far. That can generate a lot of excitement. Cold and icy days are the perfect reason to stay inside and watch the game. But that's not the big difference.

These people don't stay inside! What makes them bundle up in 3-4 layers of clothing and stand outside for hours in the coldest weather of the year? Why did they start tailgating 10 hours before the game--when it was only 8 degrees out? Why would they still be standing there after the game is won to watch a trophy presentation? Why didn't they head for the warmth of their car as soon as the clock ran down? It was below zero for pete's sake! Maybe this is what Brain Freeze really means! I mean, there's only so much alcohol can do for a body.

The answer is they are nuts. Nuts for their team, crazy for the game, die-hard fans with a will of steel. The team is well named. Yes, Steeler Nation is real. Travel to any town and you are likely to see a sign of black and gold. When we were in Talkeetna, Alaska  a  man ran out of a store to talk to us when he saw Larry in his Steeler sweatshirt. Travel to London or Paris, and you will probably find a Steeler bar where fans can gather to watch the games.

I'm still a huge Buc's fan. They will be number one for me for a long time to come. I've stayed true to my promise to my friend. She hasn't seen me in a Steeler's jersey. But that doesn't mean I haven't worn one. Black and Gold Osmosis is unavoidable. Sooner or later you come around. The team, like my Bucs, has a lot of integrity. Most of the guys are nice. There may be a few bad apples, but they don't stay around long. In short, this is an easy team to like. And they certainly have learned how to win. I have to be honest. It's easy to like a winning team.

Now it's Super Bowl time and the locals have kicked it up a notch. To me, 6 rings is enough, but they are bent on getting #7. Personally, I don't mind sharing. I won't be sad if the Packers win the Super Bowl this year. That is another great football town. But I will be rooting for the local guys. It's just part of living here. Sooner or later we all bleed Black and Gold. But they still don't get my heart pumping the way my Bucs did. .

Is It Really (JUST) August?

Tonight the world seems a little cock-eyed. The calendar is confusing. As I sit here typing, my husband is watching the first football game of the season. Football? Really? I like football actually, but it seems to me we don't need a lot of games before September. As if that isn't enough, I realize my daughter who is a teacher, goes back to work tomorrow...August 9! Come this Friday, the kids in her school district will be heading back to school.

It is at times like this I am REALLY glad I am retired. I was a teacher too, and although I lived in Florida for almost 30 years, I never got used to school starting in August. In my day, we always went back to school the first Thursday after Labor Day. August was the best month of the summer. We got out of school in the middle of June. Then after attending camp at Pennington Island (our church camp), for a week, I headed to Connecticut and Maine for the month of August. Those were heavenly days, made even better because I spent them with my best friend. We were so lucky. Usually Wendy and I headed to Maine for two weeks with her family. Then our families would meet, or my parents would come to Maine, and the two of us would head to Connecticut for 2 weeks with my family.

For several years I was able to take my own family to Connecticut in August. My sisters and I would often overlap our families for a few days. The trip from Florida to Connecticut included visits with friends and family as I traveled north. It was always my favorite part of summer. Even after I started teaching, we were able to make the trip and we would leave just in time to get back for school. It was a 3 day drive for us. The first day was a melancholy drive south as we knew summer was over. We'd stop at Nanny's or Aunt Sue's for the night. Day 2 was the transition day for me. By Day 3 as I drove through the Carolina's I would start planning the programs I wanted to promote at school. By the time I arrived home, the transition was complete and I was ready to go back to work.

Unfortunately, school districts started pushing the beginning of the school year earlier and earlier. Going north in August wasn't possible. I had to readjust my outlook about summertime.

Going back to work wasn't actually as bad as thinking about it. The first day back was fun for me as a teacher, just as it was as a student. Seeing everyone, getting the news, beginning the routine... work and school are an important part of our lives. The routine keeps us moving forward.

But August 9? It is days like this that make me glad I have retired. I loved my job, but tomorrow when I wake up, it will still be summer for me. And now that I'm back in the northeast, I'm happy to see that the kids in this neighborhood will still be enjoying summer for another few weeks.

As for Jen and the kids in Florida....Have a good year. I hope the hurricanes steer clear and the year goes well.

As for Football.... The Hall of Fame game is just the beginning. Pretty soon it will be exhibition games and then the season will be on for real. I'm going to enjoy the last days of summer to the full. The writing is on the wall. Fall is just around the corner!