A Year of Gratitude – February 11, 2024

I’m not really a football fan, but I found my gratitude by way of Super Bowl Sunday today. It didn’t have much to do with the game at all.

Instead, it was the memories that I have from growing up in Kansas City and going to Chiefs games with my dad. He was a season ticket holder when I was a teenager. At least once a year, I would go to a home game with him.

I borrowed this hat from my dad today. I wore it while running errands around town. Just pulling it onto my head brought back a flood of memories. This hat attended a lot of Chiefs games back then.

Going to a game at Arrowhead Stadium is quite an experience. The tailgating starts at dawn. The parking lot is filled with RVs, buses, and groups of fans that are managing barbecues, grills, smokers, and just about every sort of cooking appliance you can think of. It smells like the most delicious place on Earth on gameday.

I have such fond memories of those days. The planning started the week before. Decisions were made by the group of friends my dad went to the games with about what would be cooked, who would bring which dishes, and how early they would meet up to head into Arrowhead Stadium. It was always exciting to be included in those plans.

The food was always good. The weather was often blistering hot early in the season or terribly cold near the end of the season. I’ll never forget how the wind swirls in that stadium. When there’s a cold wind blowing, you’re going to feel it blow right through you no matter how many layers you are wearing.

I don’t remember who won the games I attended. I don’t know if the Chiefs gave us a reason to cheer or if we left the stadium feeling disappointed that they lost the game we had watched. I only remember that I was so happy to be spending the day with my dad doing something that he loved. All these decades later, I can feel a smile come across my face at the thought of it.

When it comes to dads, I have always known that I was lucky. I have a dad who taught me things, who involved me in what he did, who helped shape me into the person that I am and loved me even in the moments when it wasn’t easy. Today’s game, this old hat, and rooting for the Chiefs in the Super Bowl tonight all played a role in reminding me how grateful I am that my dad is my dad.

It’s halftime now. The Chiefs haven’t played well so far. I’m not sure how the game will turn out and, in the end, I won’t be upset no matter how it turns out. I’m grateful for a day that brought up so many warm memories, that gave me a reason to smile, that gave me time spent with my dad and a few hours wearing his old gameday hat.

I hope that your day gave you a reason to smile and that it was kind to you.

This post is part of our A Year of Gratitude Series. You can find the introduction, inspiration, and entire year’s gratitude’s posts here.