This past weekend I was privileged with the selfless benevolence of a fellow Dawg. He had the ability to give something to someone he knew would appreciate it. He didn't know me. He had extra tickets to the WLOCP and instead of selling them to a faceless person or third party, he gave them to someone he knew would cherish them. It was my first time. It was a big deal. And it was honestly a dream come true.
So as many of you know, I was picked at random to attend the game. I got a DM on the Vent at about 24 hours before the game because the previous winner (and a fantastic sport) didn't respond in time. I called my buddy and told him we were going to Jacksonville. I took off from where I was working immediately. I was a couple hours away from home. I made a mad dash there, just to wash the paint off of me. I had zero intentions of packing, I was just going to leave with what I had on. My girlfriend had the good sense to buy me a decent looking red Polo fleece, which was waiting on me at the house before I left for JVille, so I wouldn't look like a complete hobo when I got there.
While on the way home, my buddy was tasked with finding a hotel room for us. He was successful. It took a long time, and I'll be honest, it may have been the last place in town with a vacancy, for a reason. LOL. Along the way, I received a text from @natty.now asking for the name of the hotel where we were staying, so he could drop off the tickets. Upon my arrival, I went to the counter and there were no tickets. I was kind of in a state of concern, while at the same time, relieved natty.now didn't come by this place. The setting of this place was ominous to say the least. The sheets were a little crusty for my liking and the bathroom had what looked like an old peephole in it, but I digress. I'll sleep anywhere, but I wouldn't want a loved one there.
The following morning (after no sleep) I received an email with the tickets. Phewww!!! I contacted Natty and he told me he'd be at the parking lot at 1:30, which I thought sounded late, but I figured he knew what he was doing.
At 1:05 we left in hopes of timing our arrival right. We had to, because we couldn't arrive before Natty in order to receive our parking pass. The drive was only 1.5 miles from the stadium. The drive in of itself was pretty unforgettable and what can only be described as a safari meets Mardi Gras (but in a burroughed off neighborhood), at that time of day. Biomass was weaving in between cars. I saw some "flesh" a couple times. Traffic was murderous to say the least. There was a stretch where we we had moved about 1/5 of a mile in about 50 minutes. I was starting to have legit concerns about getting there in time. Alas traffic cleared. As we made our way to the lot, a cop refused our entry. We tried to reason with him and told him we had a pass. After he cussed us out, he removed the cones to let us through, but to make us turn around. I had silently given up tbh. But right as we were turning, Natty crosses the street with a pass in-hand (Bonnie Tyler's I Need A Hero immediately popped in my head) and the cop reluctantly let's us through (and he was visibly pissed about the L because he was enjoying the tongue lashing he was dishing out). Shewww! Finally in the lot at 2:30. We weren't at the tailgate long but were greeted with a fantastic spread. All the BBQ, trimmings and booze I could ask for. Before I left the parking lot to enter the stadium (which was immediately adjacent), I took a couple big rib bones to gnawl on with a Natty Lite. I'm sure I looked civilized.
Getting in the stadium was also an adventure. As a rookie. I took too long to get in. I was just following the crowd. Twice, we were told to go to another gate to get into the stadium. Concern about getting in on time and not appearing grateful was setting in. It was becoming a serious debacle. At this point I figured there was one thing to do to expedite this journey. Feign citizenship of another country!!! As a confused foreign national, I walked up to an employee, pretending English wasn't my first language and said "I no from here", showed him the ticket and was quickly ushered to an elevator and an aisle closest to my seat... which actually required traversing a few actual aisles because I couldn't find it though the concourse.
So I make it to my seat during the second possession of the game. I don't know if I brought the good time with me, but I was the recipient of more high fives than anyone there... easily. I was also easily the loudest when something good happened. I actually impressed a coach in front of me with my football knowledge through combustive random torretic outbursts like "CONTAIN" and calling a pick play. Anyway. The game was never in question. We controlled it from the beginning snap, which felt good... even though that led to a quarter and a half of sleeping at the wheel.
At the end of the game, I went to the parking lot and figured I'd get comfy and watch the Tennessee game at a tailgate in the lot. I had zero desire to get back into traffic. With the Tennesse game out of hand, the tailgate parties leave. I decide to wait a little longer to leave. Soon another party started in the lot. Before long I was surrounded by English Merchant Marines who were docked to have their boat repaired. So... I essentially start tailgating with them. It was fun for a while, until it got to a point where English, drunk and sailor didn't mix. The only fight I saw that weekend was sailor on sailor crime. I figured before I got too drunk and the English accent started to rub off on me, and I started fighting with them over soccer clubs, my buddy and I decided it was time to go. So we went a little north to a bar called 'Locals . Great place. I had another run in with another mustachioed cop. This one was actually waaay too friendly. A real chatter box. I figured out why he was so enthusiastic when he offered me some of his nose-beer. At this point, I figured our adventure needed to wind down so we left. Only in JVille right?
The game and experience was amazing. I'll never forget it. However, I'm far more impacted by the kindness Natty paid forwad to me. That single gesture reshaped the way I view the Dawg commity, which I had become soured on in recent years. This kindness will be paid forward by me to a fellow Dawg who needs something.
But to those of you who have extra tickets, consider giving them to someone who will truly appreciate them. For them, this game could be a once in a lifetime experience. Something that you may be viewing pretty casually, could be an experience he or she shares with their grandchildren years from now.
Without this random act, I never would have discovered what all the fuss in Jvillle is about. Go Dawg!
So as many of you know, I was picked at random to attend the game. I got a DM on the Vent at about 24 hours before the game because the previous winner (and a fantastic sport) didn't respond in time. I called my buddy and told him we were going to Jacksonville. I took off from where I was working immediately. I was a couple hours away from home. I made a mad dash there, just to wash the paint off of me. I had zero intentions of packing, I was just going to leave with what I had on. My girlfriend had the good sense to buy me a decent looking red Polo fleece, which was waiting on me at the house before I left for JVille, so I wouldn't look like a complete hobo when I got there.
While on the way home, my buddy was tasked with finding a hotel room for us. He was successful. It took a long time, and I'll be honest, it may have been the last place in town with a vacancy, for a reason. LOL. Along the way, I received a text from @natty.now asking for the name of the hotel where we were staying, so he could drop off the tickets. Upon my arrival, I went to the counter and there were no tickets. I was kind of in a state of concern, while at the same time, relieved natty.now didn't come by this place. The setting of this place was ominous to say the least. The sheets were a little crusty for my liking and the bathroom had what looked like an old peephole in it, but I digress. I'll sleep anywhere, but I wouldn't want a loved one there.
The following morning (after no sleep) I received an email with the tickets. Phewww!!! I contacted Natty and he told me he'd be at the parking lot at 1:30, which I thought sounded late, but I figured he knew what he was doing.
At 1:05 we left in hopes of timing our arrival right. We had to, because we couldn't arrive before Natty in order to receive our parking pass. The drive was only 1.5 miles from the stadium. The drive in of itself was pretty unforgettable and what can only be described as a safari meets Mardi Gras (but in a burroughed off neighborhood), at that time of day. Biomass was weaving in between cars. I saw some "flesh" a couple times. Traffic was murderous to say the least. There was a stretch where we we had moved about 1/5 of a mile in about 50 minutes. I was starting to have legit concerns about getting there in time. Alas traffic cleared. As we made our way to the lot, a cop refused our entry. We tried to reason with him and told him we had a pass. After he cussed us out, he removed the cones to let us through, but to make us turn around. I had silently given up tbh. But right as we were turning, Natty crosses the street with a pass in-hand (Bonnie Tyler's I Need A Hero immediately popped in my head) and the cop reluctantly let's us through (and he was visibly pissed about the L because he was enjoying the tongue lashing he was dishing out). Shewww! Finally in the lot at 2:30. We weren't at the tailgate long but were greeted with a fantastic spread. All the BBQ, trimmings and booze I could ask for. Before I left the parking lot to enter the stadium (which was immediately adjacent), I took a couple big rib bones to gnawl on with a Natty Lite. I'm sure I looked civilized.
Getting in the stadium was also an adventure. As a rookie. I took too long to get in. I was just following the crowd. Twice, we were told to go to another gate to get into the stadium. Concern about getting in on time and not appearing grateful was setting in. It was becoming a serious debacle. At this point I figured there was one thing to do to expedite this journey. Feign citizenship of another country!!! As a confused foreign national, I walked up to an employee, pretending English wasn't my first language and said "I no from here", showed him the ticket and was quickly ushered to an elevator and an aisle closest to my seat... which actually required traversing a few actual aisles because I couldn't find it though the concourse.
So I make it to my seat during the second possession of the game. I don't know if I brought the good time with me, but I was the recipient of more high fives than anyone there... easily. I was also easily the loudest when something good happened. I actually impressed a coach in front of me with my football knowledge through combustive random torretic outbursts like "CONTAIN" and calling a pick play. Anyway. The game was never in question. We controlled it from the beginning snap, which felt good... even though that led to a quarter and a half of sleeping at the wheel.
At the end of the game, I went to the parking lot and figured I'd get comfy and watch the Tennessee game at a tailgate in the lot. I had zero desire to get back into traffic. With the Tennesse game out of hand, the tailgate parties leave. I decide to wait a little longer to leave. Soon another party started in the lot. Before long I was surrounded by English Merchant Marines who were docked to have their boat repaired. So... I essentially start tailgating with them. It was fun for a while, until it got to a point where English, drunk and sailor didn't mix. The only fight I saw that weekend was sailor on sailor crime. I figured before I got too drunk and the English accent started to rub off on me, and I started fighting with them over soccer clubs, my buddy and I decided it was time to go. So we went a little north to a bar called 'Locals . Great place. I had another run in with another mustachioed cop. This one was actually waaay too friendly. A real chatter box. I figured out why he was so enthusiastic when he offered me some of his nose-beer. At this point, I figured our adventure needed to wind down so we left. Only in JVille right?
The game and experience was amazing. I'll never forget it. However, I'm far more impacted by the kindness Natty paid forwad to me. That single gesture reshaped the way I view the Dawg commity, which I had become soured on in recent years. This kindness will be paid forward by me to a fellow Dawg who needs something.
But to those of you who have extra tickets, consider giving them to someone who will truly appreciate them. For them, this game could be a once in a lifetime experience. Something that you may be viewing pretty casually, could be an experience he or she shares with their grandchildren years from now.
Without this random act, I never would have discovered what all the fuss in Jvillle is about. Go Dawg!
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