Nearly a
century ago my mother, a very kind and caring woman, who had plenty of spunk
and feistiness, entered the world via small town Wisconsin. Despite having multiple childhood illnesses
and spending months in various hospitals, she became an avid sports fan. My family might scoff at that and say WHAT A
MAJOR
UNDERSTATEMENT! Above all, she lived and breathed everything about the
Green Bay Packers. She wouldn’t miss a
Packers game for anything, which brings me to the Ice Bowl NFL championship
game in Green Bay against the Dallas Cowboys in 1967. My mom was there to the
bitter, freezing end and went home ecstatic as the Packers pulled off an
incredible win, moments before the final seconds ticked away. Game time
temperature was -13 and the wind chill was -48. My mother talked about it
endlessly. I’m especially thinking about
her today because tomorrow, January 5, the Packers play in another Ice Bowl
game, rivaling and perhaps surpassing the original one. San Francisco can only
imagine what they’re in for. My mother
could tell the 49ers stories!
But that
simply delightful lady who would turn one hundred on January 15, was much more
than an unusual woman who loved sports and her team. She taught me about
treasuring the simple
joys of life, showing kindness, and making a difference, in whatever meaningful
way possible.
Her high
school classmate, George, once wrote about her in the 1931 yearbook I still
have, “When you get to be a senator or something like that, sometime I’ll come
and listen to you debate.” And debate
she could, very convincingly. She taught
me well!
So here’s to
you Millie May. I’m sure you’ll be
counting on a Packers victory tomorrow, wherever you are! Thank you for the rich memories!
Yes, the Packers superseded everything. I remember when my parents visited from Germany the first time. We were at the house in Abbotsford and the Packers were on TV. Millie was not to be denied to watch. Of course may parents were totally unfamiliar with football and my dad soon dozed off in his easy chair. Then the Packers scored and Millie, in her boundless enthusiasm jumped up, cheering at the top of her lungs. M y dad, startled from the "noise," set up straight, asking several times what had happened. I don't know if he ever before had been awakened in such a manner. I doubt it.
ReplyDeleteLynda - She WAS an extraordinary woman. I remember her sense of humor, her vitality, her sparkling eyes. She was a FORCE!!!
ReplyDeleteWendy
Thanks so much, Wendy. She was unique and full of fun and genuine, and I loved her dearly!
Delete