You know how they say couples who are together for a long period of time start to look alike? We can also rub off on each other in other ways. My husband has become more organized and the tiniest bit more forceful. I have calmed down a little and have at least tried to put on Mister Rain’s rose-colored glasses. Maybe the greatest influence between us is that I am now a Seattle Seahawks fan. I am a proud 12. (12s are fans of the Seahawks, representing the “12th Man” on the field alongside the 11 players.)
On our second trip to Seattle for a game in 2007, I told my husband I wanted a Seahawks baseball hat. I was wearing one of his Seahawks shirts, not having any of my own. After paying for the green cap, he handed it to me. “Welcome to the team.”
When people ask how we became Seahawks fans, Mister Rain explains his origin story. When the Seahawks entered the NFL in 1976, Jim Zorn was the Seahawks quarterback. Jim was left handed as is my husband. That was all it took for this young Pennsylvania boy. My fandom? When there is a Seahawks logo everywhere you look, it’s hard not to go to the Dark Side.
Since I first placed that hat on my head, things quickly escalated.
I now have multiple jerseys, sweatshirts, t-shirts, both long and short sleeved, winter hats and gloves, a raincoat and jacket vest. I have a few bracelets and purses. I am on my second green baseball hat
I have been to ten Seahawks games, traveling to Seattle, New York, Pittsburgh and Washington, DC for those games. Seattle is an annual trip.
I have stood with almost 70,000 people screaming, SCREAMING, as loud as I possibly can.
I have worn fake Seahawks tattoos on my face at games in Seattle.
I have met with Steve Raible, the Seahawks play-by-play radio broadcaster to discuss how what he does impacts those of us who are visually impaired.
I have toured Lumen Field twice.
I have been on Lumen Field pre-game twice.
I have made the 100-mile trip many times to the Upper East Side of Manhattan to watch games with other 12s at Carlow East, a Seahawks bar.
I have watched every other game from home.
I have hung a Seahawks flag from our porch every game day.
I have listened to Seattle sports radio daily and Coach McDonald’s weekly radio show.
I have never bit my nails. Ever. Yet during the playoffs this season, I caught myself constantly gnawing on my thumbnail.
I have cried.
I have yelled. (Different then SCREAMING mentioned above.)
I have cursed. (I have a t-shirt that says “Classy Till Kickoff.”)
Three nights ago, I watched the Seattle Seahwks play in the Super Bowl. They beat their opponent 29-13.
We stayed up until 3 am to watch post-game festivities, look at coverage online and listen to Seattle sports radio, all from our bedroom in Pennsylvania, underneath a large canvas photograph of the Seattle skyline at night, in the center the Space Needle, lit in blue with the 12 Flag atop. I set the alarm for 8:45 am so that we could listen to the Seattle sports radio morning show. My alarm, by the way, is the siren played at Seahawks home games at every kickoff.
I am thrilled for Mister Rain and I am grateful that his passion for the Seattle Seahawks has become my passion too. He has generously shared them with me. I have always loved sports, but the Seahawks have kicked things up a notch. I no longer remember my life before. Our Christmas tree doesn’t have an angel or a star on top, it has a 12. We are 12s. And our team, the Seattle Seahawks, are Super Bowl LX Champions.
It doesn’t matter how you find your passions or how you make them your own. My husband and I do most of the above together, but I initiate a good number of them. He will always have a 30-year head start on me when it comes to being a Seahawks fan. I have great respect for that. But now this team belongs to both of us, and us to them.
When iit comes to the Seattle Seahawks, we have won.
GO HAWKS!!!
#sisterrain #alittlesightalotofheart #legallyblindwriter #humaninterest #life #lifeisgood #lifestories #storytelling #marriage #seahawks #12s #12asone #weare12
