Most of my early life I followed football. I have three brothers who played little league so I knew the plays and when to provide a cheer when they ran with the ball, stopped a play, or encouragement and ice cream when they were blown off the field by the other team. Living in Denver is perfect for the sport and I was one of those diehards who woke Sunday morning prepared to watch a full day of coast to coast football because I was two hours behind the East coast and just an hour ahead of the West.

During the 80’s however, I walked away from football and never looked back. It occurred after the player’s strike (I know, a long time ago) and after a few Sundays of looking in vain at the TV and not knowing what to do, I went out and found other activities that made my life feel complete. And, it worked because I never felt the need to return to the Sunday ritual of football.

Then, last week I entered the office pool for tickets to the Jaguar game against Houston to help a coworker. The reasoning went that my entering gave her two chances of winning the pool. Made sense to me… To my horror I learned we both won and I was expected to go (well, after a push from other office winners).

What really surprised me was the emotional fix I felt myself in: I had the ticket but didn’t want to go through the hassle of driving to and from the game, finding parking, and dealing with the crowds. I expected it to be a zoo and didn’t want to be one of the animals. After a little back and forth in my head I finally resolved that it would be fun only if I wanted it to be. So, a change in attitude was required. I got a few tips from the coworker who got me into this mess in the first place and kept channeling “Just go and see… Just go and see…”

I have long felt that Americans have lost the ability to come together and just be cordial. We seem to spend so much time shouting at each other with Red and Blue States, or “us” and “them” that to think of a large group of people putting that aside and just having fun was more than I was prepared for.

What surprised me throughout the entire event was the sense of fun and connectedness I felt as I “people watched” from place to place. In the parking lot I met this wonderful group of guys who were preparing their usual tailgate gathering. They told me there was about ten in their group and they had arrived early to stake out their territory while they waited for the rest of the group. They answered all my questions on what to do to take the shuttle and what to expect during the event. I found myself wanting to forget the game and just hang out with them because there was this wonderful sense of fun that was inviting.

My arrival at the stadium was uneventful and I devised a plan to just follow the crowd and enter a gate to find my seat. I smile now because I was early and I was actually following the crowd of people who were set to work at the event. One of the attendants looked over my ticket, told me I was in the Terrace, and provided great directions on how to get there. On the way I found out there is a lot to do while you wait for the game to start, sort of like pregame mini Disneyworld.

The Terrace was more than nice with all your food and drinks provided and an excellent view of the field. You could go out on the terrace or simply remain inside and enjoy the air conditioning. I chose the latter, heat and sun are not my friend.

I had a very attentive server named Maria who was so attentive I found myself eating slowly because as soon as the plate was half empty she was there to whisk it away to make way for another run at the buffet tables. The other winners arrived and the opening ceremony began. And guess what? I was having fun, and it wasn’t the fact that Maria kept refilling my wine glass.

And there was my coworker Cheryl, who started this adventure, down on the field holding the flag (she is such a diehard she actually volunteers to do things at the games).

I could now understand and remember why she enjoys going to the games, because it is a feeling of being connected with others and just having a good time. Simple as that…

In my mind the game was uneventful until the last thirty minutes when the score was tied and there was a sense of suspense that the Jaguars might lose in overtime.

On my way home I mentally went through what I had just experienced and could understand the feelings of my coworker, those guys tailgating, and all the others who come together every Sunday. It is that coming together that makes the event so seductive. I had forgotten that feeling from years ago.

I can’t say I plan to return to football, but I will say that I enjoyed that feeling of connectedness…