Within 24 hours, the Washington Redskins beat Dallas in primetime to reach 10 wins and the first division crown since 1999, and Vanderbilt defenestrated North Carolina State to win the Music City Bowl and reach 9 wins for the first time since Nicholas II was Czar of All The Russias. Put it this way: last time the Dores hit 9, women couldn’t vote, Prohibition hadn’t happened, and radio wasn’t a thing. Oh, and we were 18 years away from the forming of the SEC.
In a year that was trying and stressful on the fronts of job, health, family and politics, the games gave hope and something to root for and community. All of San Francisco pulling for the Giants in another World Series. The Vanderbilt twittoblogosphere online and the chance to see baseball and football in person in the same year for the first time since 1996. The sudden rise of Golden State and the rediscovery of pro basketball in Oakland and Santa Cruz alike. And the fact that on October 20, Vandy raised the victory flag over Dudley Field after beating Auburn…and it hasn’t come down since.
Things can start rough. Things may not go well. Endure, persevere, don’t give up, and keep building, and believe that things can get better – that you can make them get better. That’s the lesson from being a Commodore in 2012.
So on to 2013. More shutdown time. Less reckless spending. Not so much on the sweetened drinks and gallons of coffee. Back to the weights. Do the things it will take to make life better, and enjoy them. Put down the phone, close the laptop, read the magazines and books, serve the drinks at home, see friends. Enjoy wearing the work chukkas and the black trucker jacket on those cool evening walks up Murphy Street of a Sunday.
Breathe in, be still, and absorb the moment. Still a good idea. Here’s to a lucky 2013.