I lied. 

I wanted a do-over and I got one. 

I got the do-over and I got to go.

My husband, who went above and beyond in 2021 to satisfy my every desire, gave me everything and then some.

To not bore you with the Jimmy giving tree, I will simply discuss UGA football. But first, please understand my husband…he loves his money. He does not like to spend his money. The joke from his family is…he still has his First Communion money. Not only is he frugal, there is nothing he likes more than getting a deal. Well, the SEC Champ game tickets were not a deal. As a result of my deal with the devil, he said…NO MORE GAMES. DONE. I understood and I agreed.

Post SEC Champ nightmare, I had an opportunity to go to the Orange Bowl. My friend bought me a ticket. Jimmy was not going to let me go without him so we started the diligence for a trip to Miami, FL, maybe even as a family. My daughters had already spent money on their New Year’s Eve plans so they were out. We discussed the trip and weighed all the options. After many painful attempts to try to make it work, economically, it just was not going to happen. It was okay. I couldn't believe Jimmy even considered it. 

To attend the Orange Bowl, it would have meant 30+ hours in the car. The drive began with 8+ hours driving to get to the location we were going to stay with friends, 2 hours north of Miami, drive to the game and back, stay at a very expensive hotel, pay for a rental car...and on and on. Not a good idea. I felt horrible about the ticket my friend had bought me. I made a lame effort to repay him but I still felt bad about my lack of follow through and bailing on my commitment. We just could not make it happen.

UGA took care of business in sunny, beautiful Miami, (Michigan). We had gotten the nod from the gods of the BCS for the Orange Bowl and we won. UGA was going to the Nati. I went through all of my superstitions about where and with whom I was going to watch the game on TV. Seriously.

I was so nervous and it was barely January. Sick.

The last time UGA won the National Championship, my brother and sister were both students at UGA. I am 6 and 7 years behind them so I was in 8th grade. When I attended UGA in the late 80’s, the closest I got to a National Championship was when we beat the Gators in Jacksonville during the regular season. I found myself on the field after the game rolling on the turf. Needless to say, UGA was not expected to win that game. We had a subpar season and anything would have made us go crazy, especially a win over the Gators.

Enter 2021/2022…the second time in history, two of my first blood, direct relations were attending UGA at the same time, my two daughters, like my brother and sister in 1980. Just go with me on this one. Have you met a UGA fan? We are all this way.

And, like every other UGA fan, 40+ years is a long time to wait but 2021/2022 was the year and I latched onto Hope like never before, see here. 

Tuesday, January 4th, 5:00pm in the evening.

I got the call.

My brother’s best friend called me with an opportunity to buy 2 tickets at face value for the National Championship game. Offered by a die hard UGA fan who just wanted to make sure he was sitting with another die hard UGA fan.

The ‘Sell’ job. My husband is the greatest salesperson I know. And when it comes to buying anything, he does not pay retail…he wants to negotiate, everything. Oh boy. It was my turn to sell him. Remember, I was done. I promised. I would not ask again.

With my tail between my legs, I ventured outside, phone in hand to where he was washing one of our 6 cars. I had a hopeful but doubtful look on my face and questioned him with my eyes. He simply stood up and stared at me with his warmest and the most defeated grin I have ever seen on his visage. He somehow knew and said how much? Hoping by now, you understand why I married this man. When I told him face value and we had to decide within the next 10 minutes, he said go for it…again, you understand why I married this man.

I bought the two tickets and the logistics came next. It started with the fact that we had to rent a car because none of our 6 cars would make it to Indy in their current condition. Lodging…so very lucky, my husband found a great rate at a not so nearby hotel, minor miracle and we were connecting with my brother and his son to ride their coattails on a lot of the events.

So, based on my SEC Champ post and my last hurrah…I lied. Not intentionally. 

My daughters, the two UGA students, did not want to go...they wanted to be in Athens with the majority of their Dawg student friends to celebrate if UGA won the trophy. How could anyone blame them? Check out the Barstool Post.

The entire cost to attend the Nati in Indy was less than the 2 tickets I paid for to attend the SEC Champ game. Ugh. And the $ and hours saved versus having gone to the Orange Bowl, was 50% less…hours and money. Who knew? Sidebar…the weather delta was 66 degrees…75 degrees in Miami, 9 degrees in Indy. Ohhhh, but I was so warm inside! I just knew. Image below of pre-game at Lucas Oil Stadium, sunny, 9 degree day, awesome!