UGA football in the Classic City Athens, GA

Its Saturday afternoon and my team just lost the second conference game in as many attempts. Nobody likes to lose but not so many years ago. I would have been beside my self in this situation. I would have been unbearable on the way home and probably would have carried that disdain with me into the early part of the next week as I discussed the loss with my friends and coworkers,

Today however, 3 marriages and divorces later, having made and lost a fair amount of money several tiimes, spending a stint in Federal Prison and having been recently diagnosed with a serious yet inoperable heart problem. The loss and its consequences don't seem quite so significant.

What does seem so however are the memories of all the wonderful times that I spent in Athens watching those or them Dawgs as we like to call them! The cool crisp fall morning that only exists in the south when the air is fresher and sweeter than it has been in days letting you know that even though it might be 85 degrees this afternoon. A cooler, more pleasant time is just around the corner and that by seasons end we might be watching them in sweaters and wrapped in blankets.

There is nothing like Athens on game day when the smell of bourbon and young girls perfume and grills and football leather mingle together and waft on the air producing the most wonderful aroma you can imagine. There is noise and laughter and music from radios and even more from some band playing in the distance.

I think back to the number of times I have made it to our tailgating spot firmly planted my game day chair poured myself a drink and waited for those friends and family to show up for what always proved to be a grand time.

There were always the younger ones just off to college all freshed faced and innocent though maybe not so much the night before but on that day they had their whole world in front of them. It is a rite of passage you know to be young and healthy and transistioning from High School to college a time when you believe that you can't fail and that life will always be fair and good.

Years later when life has played its hand, it is my sincere hope that they will all be able to look back on those days with a certain fondness and believe as I do that it was a perfect time for it truly was. When that day comes I hope that they will feel the need to pass along and appreciation of those days to their children so they can do them same and that generations that follow me just like the ones that lead will all share a common bond.

My father died two years ago and I miss him but he gave me an appreciation for the game of football and days like I just described that I carry with me today. I passed that along to my children and they seem to be passing it along to theirs. My youngest grandaughter Maggie won't remember my dad. All she'll know of him is what we tell her and in time even those memories will fade but on some crisp fall day in the "Classic City" years from now he'll look down and maybe I will too and see her there and that at least in some small way I hope will tie us together.

I know Its just a game and winning is important but whats moreso is the ride it takes you on and I have enjoyed every minute of that!