How do you solve a problem like football?

Football season is over! Of course, there will be the post-game rehash of what happened, the half-time show and the commercials but the long season of men in tight pants, tossing around a ball is over. Can you tell I’m not a fan? To each his own, I guess, but apparently, I’m in the minority because over 114 million tuned in to the big game yesterday.

I did give football a go many times through the years for the people in my life: family, friends, boyfriends and my husband. I could never understand the game and why each 15 minute quarter seemed to last an hour. Whenever I asked questions during a game I was sushed because you are not permitted to talk during the game due to rules of social propriety unless you are yelling at the players and coaches on TV.

My greatest attempt at learning and liking the game has been with my husband because he is a big fan of college football (Notre Dame in particular since it’s his alma mater) and I’ve even made a few trips to South Bend to watch games live, in person. These were actually fun, right up until the game started and we were squashed in with the other 80,000 spectators. Strolling around campus, visiting the bookstore and the awesome food at the tailgate parties were all good. I also enjoyed the band and the camaraderie of fans. We even traveled to see them when they played in Dublin in 2012 and that was pretty cool but I was less interested in the game than all the other stuff.

It must have been the late 1990’s when I finally had my own place again and was without a boyfriend who would want to watch the game, that I decided to work on a sewing project and thought a visit to JoAnn Fabrics would be a great idea. Guess what, guys? Do not go to a fabric store on Superbowl Sunday. Every other woman who dislikes football in equal measure was treating the day like Black Friday and I barely made it out alive. Back in the day, streaming shows on Netflix wasn’t a thing, but that is probably an ideal way for a non-fan to spend the day.

Me, I spent the day cozied up with a book, worked on a puzzle of an Italian seaside (I think it’s the Amalfi coast area) and played Monopoly with Liam, who is also apparently not a fan either (at least until it’s time for bed and then any excuse to stay up will do). We are reading A Wrinkle in Time together as he’s reading it in school so we did that at bedtime. I never read this when I was a kid and love it. I was tempted to keep reading when we were done for the night but I decided to join Jim for a few minutes of the game. I have to say, I was pretty happy to hear the Eagles were ahead because I love to root for the underdog. I didn’t finish watching the game but went to bed with the book I had been reading.

Are you a football fan?

MC