and one of the many reasons im proud to call our family Dallas fans...
"Not your stats or your prestige, but the relationships and the achievement that you created through a group. It's hard to do, but there's great joy in that."
Tony Romo
i would have never guessed i would be making a post,
and crying through writing it...
about football.
yes. football.
and how its sparked a light inside...
be prepared... this is a long one.
a sweet post. a glimpse into my heart...
you see, i was raised in a family where football was part of life.
didn't help that i was raised in Texas... football central ;)
my earliest memories are being snuggled on the couch with my parents,
watching the game.
when my grandparents would visit,
they always had their team proudly displayed on some form of clothing.
a badge of honor...
the Pittsburgh Steelers...
"wait did she say PITTSBURGH STEELERS?!
wasn't this post titled DALLAS? she quoted Tony Romo?!"
your probably REALLY confused if you're a football fan...
if your not a football fan... lets put it to you this way...
MASSIVE RIVALRY :: Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys.
so, yes, i was raised a Steelers fan.
both of my parents grew up outside of Pittsburgh.
their parents were Steelers fans.
most of my mothers parents photos have some form of Steelers paraphenalia in the background.
when in doubt when it came to gift giving...
you could NEVER go wrong with something Steelers related!!
while, i didn't know much about the game,
i sure knew how to cheer for them Steelers. ;)
fast forward to jr high and high school...
i lived in Katy, Texas... home of the Katy Tigers.
kind of a big deal...
you know...
the Katy Tigers that brought the Bengals their now star quarter-back Andy Dalton...
i was just surrounded by football now wasn't I!
but it never really caught my heart...
until I met Ryan.
for those who don't know Ryan,
he's quiet and soft spoken. steady. dependable. faithful.
he doesn't get angry or fly off the handle.
some might say he's not extremely passionate about much...
but he is VERY passionate about the Dallas Cowboys.
he has rooted for them since he was a little boy.
living in Ohio.
I always joke with Ryan that he should have been a coach.
still tell him he has time.
his knowledge of the game, the players (on multiple teams) and the plays...
its VERY impressive.
so when we met, one of the things i tried my best to "win his affections" with...
was to understand football...
i would watch the games with him...
and be that annoying chick who asked a BA-ZILLION questions... during the game.
he was so patient and kind with me.
[he still is when this pregnancy brain eats all my previous football knowledge...ha!]
interruption for a quick funny story...
i surprised him with a Dallas personalized jersey once... with the number 17.
he was so sweet, that it took him almost a full year to tell me that out of all the numbers...
# 17 was associated with a player that was not so well loved/liked...
but that he would proudly wear it...
and he did... right until the number and the name wore off!
anyway,
when he was in his freshman year of college,
i would watch the games... with him on the phone.
i would ask him about the players. why the flag was thrown...
it was so special to me.
then the thanksgiving game...
we were watching...
it was then official to me...
the Dallas Cowboys had a place in my heart...
i knew i could no longer cheer for the Pittsburgh Steelers. ;)
fast forward a month...
ryan came home for Christmas break...
and proposed. i said yes...
[that whole story is saved for another post ;)]
we decided we would get married that coming June.
and our colors...
Navy and Silver...
the Dallas Cowboys baby!
a few months later...
Tony Romo stepped into his first season of being the Cowboys quarterback...
10 years ago.
very similar to the Dallas Cowboys situation now... with Dak Prescott...
when i told my grandparents that ryan had proposed and i said yes...
their first reaction was, "Kate... you know he's a Dallas fan right?!"
they obviously came around to having him become a part of the family...
took them a bit longer to be ok with me joining "the dark side"...
it was always a conversation when we were together.
my Mimi giving him a hard time.
my Pappap rolling his eyes but always enjoying a game with him.
even when we moved up to Pittsburgh, from Dallas [i know we're nutty]
and we lived with my Pappap for a few weeks...
he would put up with the Cowboys t-shirts and jerseys sported from us.
so when a year ago,
Ryan's uncle let me know that he was going to be in Pittsburgh next year...
for the Pittsburgh/Cowboys game...
and wanted to know if we might want to join him...
i lost my mind!!
it was right before Ryan's birthday...
and i knew we still didn't even know the day/time,
but i was ALL about it!!
i made tickets and put them in a card... and surprised Ryan.
so much so, he didn't even believe it!
it took a few hours for him to process that we were ACTUALLY going to the game!
this past weekend was THE game.
it only happens every FOUR years.
Dallas Cowboys VS. Pittsburgh Steelers.
our families and our friends cheering for the Steelers...
the two of us cheering for the Cowboys...
i was nervous. i had never been to an NFL game before,
either had Ryan... we didn't know what to expect...
i was especially nervous because im at that point in the pregnancy...
where i have to pee... all.the.time.
i planned my liquid intake around this game guys... HA!!
we were so surprised...
when we drove into Pittsburgh to find a place to park...
looking around at the tailgates... THERE WERE DALLAS FANS?!??
walking into the stadium...
a pretty good mix of Dallas and Pittsburgh...
into our seats...
another really good mix of Dallas and Pittsburgh...
you just knew it was going to be a good game.
and boy was it!!!
i can't remember the last time we had that much fun.
the last time we laughed and smiled so much our cheeks were sore.
it truly was a once in a lifetime experience!
and the whole being nervous about being pregnant and having to pee...
my liquid intake plan...
POINTLESS...
just in case your wondering...
when you start screaming and cheering and jumping...
you pee. no matter what.
memories right?! ;)
i hope i NEVER forget the feeling when we scored the winning touchdown.
reaching over and grabbing Ryan to kiss him.
screaming and cheering. the tingle of excitement and joy...
WE WON!!!
high-fiving and celebrating with other Dallas Fans... people we had never met...
that connection, that thread of familiarity...
infectious!
so lets move a few days forward...
to last night...
when Tony Romo spoke at a press conference...
for those who don't know, he was injured at the beginning of the season,
Dak Prescott is our rookie quarterback who has done an amazing job.
there has been a lot of speculation of what the Dallas Cowboys would decide to do.
When Romo healed... would he go back to his quarterback position.
Would Dak continue on...
Ryan and I have talked a lot about this ourselves.
the bittersweet feeling... of wanting Romo to play again.
To see him lead the Cowboys into the Super Bowl,
but also being so impressed by this rookie Dak. not only on the field but off...
just how we felt about Romo...
so when Romo came out last night and made a statement...
i watched with tears in my eyes.
its about 6 minutes long... and worth every moment.
regardless of who you cheer for.
its one of the many reasons i love this team.
why i know my husband loves this team.
they are a family.
this is part of his release and it spoke to me on so many levels...
"Everyone wants to be the reason they winning or losing. Every single one of us wants to be that person. But there are special moments that come from a shared commitment to play a role, while doing it together. That's what you will remember. Not your stats or your prestige, but the relationships and the achievement the you created through a group. It's hard to do, but there's great joy in that."- Tony Romo.
what wise words.
coming from a man who had to make one of the hardest decisions in his career.
honestly, probably one of the hardest in his life.
but he hit the nail on the head...
its not about the accolades, the glory, or the awards you win in this life...
whether thats in your career, your extracurriculars...
it truly is 100% about the relationships.
the power that holds.
in a world so full of disappointments, heartache, missed goals [pun intended]...
when its all said and done...
what you will really remember,
is people.
the relationship.
life is absolutely pointless, dark and dim... if you don't have genuine relationships.
the ones that bring you light. life. joy.
the ones that push you to greatness. to your full potential. to be who you are.
i know that some might find it silly that a quote from "some football quarterback"
could bring me to tears,
could bring me such peace and vision....
but never discount when clarity and inspiration sparks...
no matter the source.
so while my heart aches,
not only for the Dallas Cowboys and our sweet Tony,
but for our nation... for our families...
my heart is hopeful.
regardless of what "side" your on...
no matter what your personal situation may look like...
its time to foster and pour into relationships. into people.
to love.
that one person,
one relationship at a time...
may it spark a light.
a light that can shine so very bright.
xoxo, Kate
