Going to a Northern Arizona University (NAU Lumberjacks) football game is one thing, sitting at Row 1 on the 50-yard line flanked by two energetic fathers of starting players, one a receiver and the other an offensive lineman #62 Jamison Pruitt, its just priceless.
Especially when one player #89 is your brother’s son, my nephew Jonathan Baldwin. The phrase “Family is everything” is the truest of all life’s bumper stickers.
I was able to witness this fine athlete catch a touchdown pass then catch another and another. Life was great, then the other team started to score and score, drive and drive. Was it me? Was it the Refs? Should I have thrown Hawaiian Sea Salt over my shoulder? Time would tell.
Tensions were high, my heart was pounding out of my chest as I tried to keep up. You see when it’s family you focus on your family and not the whole game.
Then it happened like a Martin Scorsese film. I watched as quarterback Case Cookus #15 (The Johnny Unitas of the Big Sky conference) dropped back, he looked right and left, then throws a perfect pass directly at me, or so I wished, #89 extends his big hands out and grabs it from thin air (7,000′ elevation) right in front of me as if they planned it in the huddle to make his Uncle Beach proud.
I know “Oldie” my Dad (his Grandpapa) was looking down as I screamed with the crowd watching him steam down the field like a locomotive on rails smashing two defenders like bowling pins for a big first down and more.
We won big but that was second to being there in person with his Mom and Dad on the field to congratulate the victors. I have no idea how you parents go to game after game, week after week, sport after sport. I was totally spent.
Family is amazing, the moments priceless.