Despite having crazy hockey schedules for the kids, we only ended up missing two SCSU games this entire season. They didn't have the greatest year, but we are still fans. I will say that I would be more than happy to never hear "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba ever again. They played the whole obnoxious "I get knocked down but I get up again" thing every time they got scored on. I was about to write a letter, compose an e-mail, or make a phone call to tell them that either they need to start playing a different song or quit getting scored on. One or the other, because I was about to lose my mind. Fingers are crossed that both change for next season! Because, we'll be back. After all, we have been going to games since the time when we only needed two tickets for the four of us to get in. Blake could still sit on Henry's lap and I was waddling down the stairs to our seats with my big belly full o' Paige.
This year, the last home game of the regular season was a throwback jersey and silent auction night. Henry has been waiting a long time for this night. It's kind of a long story, but don't worry, I'm gonna tell it. Two years ago, Henry tried to win Garrett Roe's game jersey in a silent auction because #9 was Blake's favorite Husky hockey player. It came down to Henry and another guy bidding back and forth in the final minutes before the auction ended. Finally, the other guy tells Henry that he would really like to have his son's jersey. Henry was bidding against Garrett Roe's dad. Henry, of course, stops bidding and the two chat for a couple minutes while Henry explains that Garrett is our 7 year old son's favorite player. So Garrett's dad gives Henry his e-mail address and promises to set up a special meeting for Blake. Blake did get that special meeting which included a tour of the locker room, meeting the players and coaches, getting autographs, a photo, and even one of Garrett's game sticks (see post "Super Bowl Homeboy" from February 2009). He was on cloud 9! Needless to say #9 became a favorite player for our entire family. And Henry still wanted that jersey.
So fast forward two years, it is now Garrett's senior year and last regular season home game of his SCSU career. There was no doubt on Saturday, that we were going home with that jersey. After the game, all of the auction winners were invited down on the ice to meet their players, take a picture, and get the game jersey. The kids were so excited to get the actual jersey off his back, Paige even said she was going to smell it. For those of you that don't know, hockey stinks. No one else wanted to smell that jersey.
After the game (Which turned out to be a great game and a huge win!), we head down to the ice and wait our turn in line. When we get to Garrett, there are hand shakes, hugs, and smiles. He tells Paige that he likes her eyes (they were glittered from Blake's game earlier in the day). She takes it literally, and you could almost see her melt. Yes, we make her smell the jersey. Yes, it stinks. We took pictures and chatted for a few minutes. Then it was time to go. As we are walking off the ice, Blake turns back to Garrett and says, "Thanks for the memories." Now, it was my turn to melt.
The kids fought over who got to hold the bag with the jersey in it the entire way home. Now, with the wall location already determined, I just need to get it framed. It is just a hockey sweater, but what it represents is undeniable: hockey, family time, innocence, smiles, heroes, joy. Yes indeed, thanks for the memories.
