Another First:

Well, thanks to the generosity of my cousin Karyl, I can now say that I’ve been to a NFL football game! Matt, her husband purchased tickets for their family of three, my father & me to go to the San Diego – Philly game yesterday at Qualcom Stadium here in San Diego. My sister and her family joined us as we met at 10 am to go tailgating in the parking lot. My sister knows the promotional VP for the Chargers and got us tickets in the Club Level (@ $200 a pop), we discovered unfortunately upon arrival that this did not include parking – as we were split up on arrival there, Kathy & Matt’s cars were admitted but they were the last ones, dad & I circled, he dropped me at the front gate and found a space about ¾ of a mile away.

Using our cell phones, we were able to meet up where Kathy & Matt parked to do our lunch and enjoy the experience. Unfortunatly I am at this time having some swelling in my left leg (think it is a drug reaction but the doctors will see about it later today) so I was using crutches. With that in mind 45 minutes prior to game time (1:05) I started in, and lucked out – a ‘Cushman’ cart cruising the parking lot saw me and picked me up, depositing me at my gate. The attendant there directed me to the elevator which got me real close to my seat. Everyone else joined me by game time and a good time was had by all.

With about 10 minutes left in the final quarter, Karyl, Matt & Matty left. Little did we realize that this was a very smart move. The rest of us started out after San Diego scored their final field goal. It took about 20 minutes to get to my sisters car (using the crutches, where were my friends and their ‘Cushman’ then?), and an hour to get out of the parking lot, another 45 minutes to drive the ¾ mile to dad’s car (if only we had taken mine with the ‘Handicap Placard’.

All in all it was a very good event, even though the leg is hurting today… Though I must add that it was in hindsight a good thing my friend who was awaiting her transplant was unable to come with us, the time frame would have exceeded her oxygen supply….