The Game

Well ladies and gentlemen, we are down to the final game of the season. Ohio State vs. Michigan. This game is for the Big 10 Title and a possible trip to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl. It has been a long 12 weeks, but a very fast season. Reggie and Bill managed to attend every home game, Bonne attended all but the Penn State game (she was in Africa!) and two road trips were made - Bill and Reggie with some friends to Northwestern and the three of us to Champaign for the night game at Illinois. It all comes down to this. The last game of the year and 9 months of weekends we don't already have plans for!
This game would be especially important because "Us 4" has been "Us 4, minus 1" for the last almost 2 seasons. Chris has been serving in the military and has been deployed to Iraq since after the first game of last season. We have missed him terribly, thought about and prayed for him daily, checked in on Laura for him, and when given the opportunity, harassed his brothers - just like he would if he were here. (Did you really think I was the police? ROTFLMAO!) The word had come through that he would be back in the USA in time for The Game. Now we had to hope that he would be able to make it back to Michigan to attend our tailgate. What Chris didn't know, was that he had tickets for the game - given to him by his Dad. We kept telling everyone that this tailgate would be off the hook if Chris made it home. That it was......that it was! Needless to say, some of us had a little too much fun (me) and didn't get to see much of the game - or really any of it for that matter. It's not the first time it has happened to someone at one of our tailgates, it may not be the last...
So, as what started out to be a very promising season now comes to an end, we figured that this is Lloyd's last game. Before the season started we were contenders for the National Title - until the debacle against Appalachian State and the disaster against Oregon. That pretty much ended the title hopes - but we could still vie for the Big 10 Title. Traditionally, the Big 10 title comes down to OSU and Michigan. This year would be no different. We would come up on the losing end of this perennial battle, 14-3. Our team was playing without a healthy Chad Henne or Mike Hart. It was a sad way to end the season, but we're so happy and fortunate to have Chris home, safe and sound. At the end of the day, its about family and friends. We should all be so blessed as we all are.
May you all have a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday season and a fantastic 2008. Bill, Reggie and I will be spending New Year's Day in Orlando watching Lloyd Carr coach his last game - we are very excited to go! No tailgating for me though!