And They Win!

What is it about the love of a sports team that brings people together? That gives fans such joy and such sorrow? That makes people CRAZY?!

If only I knew, but I have have spent WAY too much time supporting the Canucks this year -  82 regular season games and 7 playoff games so far, with no end in sight. How are someone's hopes and dreams pinned on a group of men they've never even met? It's pretty pathetic when you break it down.

My blessed Canucks. They blew a 3-0 series lead to go to 7 games and finally win the series in overtime. I kid you not when I say I aged from 35 to 45 over night. My heart was put to the test. Grey hairs sprouted by the minute. I nearly lost my voice.

But it all ended as it should have, this round anyway. What happens in 2 or 3 days when the next round starts, and the drama begins again? My life is stressful enough - why do I add this uneccesary stress? WHY do I care so much?

I'm not the only one - my husband and several of our good friends are in the same boat. We are not bandwagon jumpers, we are tried and true fans, and will remain that way even if they, God forbid, they lose the next round. Sadly, we have projected this to our children, who are required to wear jerseys over their pajamas, even if they are hot and sweaty; who have to wait for bedtime till intermission; and who are somehow not woken when their parents lose their ever loving minds over the winning goal.

It all comes down to the faint glimmer of hope - what if they happen to win this ALL??? The prize I have been faithfully hoping they'll win my whole life. I have supported them and chastised them for as long as I can remember. Somehow, I feel as though I personally deserve this as much as they do.

If they win, my life will be just a bit happier.

Is that a sad statement? Probably. But you take your happiness where you can get it.

GO CANUCKS!