Happy Superbowl

    When I was a kid Superbowl Sunday was pretty much a holiday for us. We had a bunch of people over and had a big party every year. It started with three people. My dad and his two friends, Roy and Jack. They all worked together at Grumman many, many years ago by now. They started a tradition on the 3rd Superbowl ever played. They all got together at my dads house. They've been doing it ever since. They missed only one together when Jack, I believe, was out of the country, possibly in the service. Over the years they all got married and the wives were included. Then of course came the kids and we loved our once a year party.
   In total there were eight of us kids. We made banners and made up shows for our parents. It was a day full of fun. We always got pizza and had plenty of snacks. Then the game was actually on earlier so the men would watch and the women would chat and the kids would play. After the game was over the parents all used to play Trivial Pursuit. Sometimes we kids would watch, sometimes we'd be watching the WWF (as it was then called) Royal Rumble that used to be on after the Superbowl. Now it's on so late there is no doing anything after but sleep and getting the kids ready for school. I remember the pizza used to be ordered at halftime. Now you can certainly be done with dinner well before kick off.
    As I lived with my dad for quite a long time even after I had the boys I was always there for Superbowls. Long after the wives and kids stopped coming because the kids all grew up and went their own directions. But my dad Roy and Jack still got together no matter what. They would barely speak to each other throughout the year sometimes but come Superbowl they're spending the day, or now the evening, together. I don't remember the details of the games I don't even know what number we are up to this year like the guys all do. Which is why I'm not sure if it was the first superbowl after Rob and I moved into our own house that I did not go to my dads. I think it probably was. I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong. That one just so happened to be the Janet Jackson half time wardrobe malfunction game. Even now when I hear about it again I still remember how I wasn't there to see how the guys reacted to it. And boy can I imagine how great their reactions would have been. That would be the one I missed. Needless to say I've gone back every year since. Someitmes Rob comes, sometimes he doesn't. I usually have the kids with me no matter what as it's fun for them too whether they watch the game or just play at Grandpa's house.
    Tradition will be upheld for yet another year come Sunday. I'm very much looking forward to it. So are my kids. There has been a fourth added to the original male threesome some years ago. John is Roys' oldest daughters boyfriend. Has been for some time now so he's been coming with Roy. He works in a deli or catering place and now brings hero's. No more pizza. There are still plenty of snacks. And of course now I'm allowed to have some of the alcohol. Last year my dad even asked what to get for me and my sisters and Roys' girls who were joining the party again for the first time in a long time. What we might like to drink. It was a little surreal. The kids, or us girls had our own little reunion of sorts last year thanks to Facebook. Well really my sister who bumped into one of Roys daughters and then started talking more and made the Superbowl plans on Facebook. So now we can all see what we're up to once again on Facebook. Though I have no idea if any of them are coming on Sunday.
     Rob and I recently started talking more and more about the mortality of our parents. Not fun, but it is reality. Though I don't believe my dad is going anywhere anytime soon, or my other Superbowl dads, you never know. I won't miss Superbowl no matter what anymore just incase. I had a weird feeling about it this year. The dads first watched Superbowl was the only one the Jets ever played in. I believe anyway. With the Jets coming very close to making it in again I was very paranoid. I had an overwhelming feeling that if they did this could very well be the last Superbowl they watched together. Don't ask me why it's just a feeling. Now, they didn't make it and it may not matter whether they did or didn't. But time will tell on that one. I'm not sure what would happen if one were gone. Would the others still get together or would it be too weird? It's too tough for me to pictue a superbowl without my dad, Roy and Jack. I think I'll just keep looking forward to Sunday and ignore the rest.