Traveling for Thanksgiving and Football

I have arrived in Iowa for the Thanksgiving Holiday! I am so excited to be here to see my family. In a couple more days, several members of my family, from the east and west coasts, will be filtering in to spend the holiday here as well. It will be so fun. I am very anxious to see my mother and her two sisters in action. They are a 3-woman show like you have never seen. Eating, laughing, games, story telling on each other and someone usually always pees their pants for laughing too hard. Doesn't that happen at everyone's holiday gatherings? Out of respect for the 3 ladies I won't tell you who usually pees their pants. After all, I don't want to embarrass my mother like that. . . . .

As I boarded the plane in New Orleans, I realized that I am surrounded by Louisiana State (LSU) fans [record is 9-1]. Now, being a Mississippi State (MSU) [record is 6-4] fan myself, this made for an interesting ride. With Ole Miss in their sites, the LSU fans were rather enthusiastic during the plane ride. Joking, drinking (it is 11:30am), and showing off were on the agenda for this ride. I was very fortunate to sit beside a mild mannered LSU fan who asked if I am a Tiger fan. I realized that I have on a yellow T-shirt and purple fleece-what was I thinking? I confidently stated that I am an MSU fan and he seemed fine with that since they were focused on beating Ole Miss-which will not be difficult at all. Let me also mention that several times during the flight someone would yell, "Go to hell Ole Miss!" Uh-huh. I had to smile when 8-10 men, ages 40 and above, would burst into laughter throughout the plane revealing that they were in this traveling group of Tiger fans. The fan sitting beside me, Mike I think, told his friends that he has never been to a game at Ole Miss. His friends delightfully reported "You have never been cursed like you will be tomorrow. No one hates LSU like Ole Miss." Once again, they all burst into laughter and get even more excited to make the trip to Oxford. LSU fans don't mind cursing others (ever been to Tiger Stadium a.k.a. "Death Valley" for a game?), or being cursed at-it's like adding fuel to the fire. For the next hour, they told stories about their quarterback Ryan Perrilloux's recent bar fight, their business accomplishments who was the last target of one of their creative practical jokes. I was very entertained and the flight seemed to fly by. I do feel a certain softening of my hatred for LSU since moving to Louisiana. Maybe subconsciously, I chose the purple and gold outfit to show my support for LSU. Or. . . maybe the fact that they will most certainly demolish Ole Miss today makes me a Pseudo-Tiger Fan. JUST for today.

Professor Matthew arrives on Wednesday after he finishes teaching to complete the Thanksgiving Dinner roster. I can't wait, I miss you already honey!