I took a walk at lunch today to enjoy one of the most beautiful days I can remember in a while. It was cool (mid 50’s) and there was a slow breeze that just kept the air moving enough to drag along the new fresh smells of fall. I wandered down the sidewalks thinking of fall and recalling memories of why I enjoy this time of year more than any other.
Growing up in Antigo, fall meant one thing…football. I know I attended many games before this, but the first fall football season that I remember was in 1982. Antigo won the state championship that year and I remember mentally “suiting up” as a kid preparing for each weeks game. We traipsed all over Wisconsin that year chasing a dream and at the end of fall that year, we all felt like heroes.
At the time for me football was life, but in hindsight it was the secondary if not tertiary experience. What we were really doing was finding a way to cherish one of Wisconsin’s most precious gifts. We found a way to play life’s game and enjoy it like few other moments in time. Yea, I remember some of the touchdowns and jumping up in the stands, but I also remember some of the most picturesque drives one can imagine through the beautiful fall color of Northern Wisconsin. I remember walking out on the field after the game and smelling the fresh grass preparing to retire for the year. And most of all I remember sharing what is one of my most cherish childhood memories with my Dad and my brother. We won that year. The amazing thing is that the celebration goes on again and again every time I experience a beautiful Wisconsin fall day.
1 comment:
Funny, dad and I were just talking about how much fun it used to be going to football games on Friday nights and having your and Mark's friends over before the games. By the way, did I tell you that Antigo, Merrill, and Rhinelander aren't going to be in the Wisconsin Valley Conference anymore? They are going to be part of the Northern Lights Conference. Mark thinks that sucks. Luv ya, Erm.
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