There is no joy ----

Category: Getting my garden started | Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:38 pm

To quote Ernest Lawrence Thayer, and alter it just a little, "Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright, The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light, And somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout; But there is no joy in Packerland â€“ the mighty Packers have struck out".
I think that I'll spend some time alone, crying in my beer, thinking about the wins this season, of which there were many, and when I come to the Giants game, I'll cry some more in that beer. So close, and yet soooo far. The hard thing to accept is the suddenness with which it all ended.
I sure should be happy with most all that happened this season, because at the beginning of the season, after last years record, I was hoping, at best for a 500 or better season, to indicate that the team was getting better. Then they started by winning more games than I had expected. They kept winning, with there only early loss to the Bears. By mid season, I was beginning to think about the playoffs, and really enjoying all the good games. Not to mention the pleasure watching as Bret Favre set so many records, and assured himself a place in the NFL hall of Fame. While I love sports, and the Packers in particular, I myself have never been very good at playing the game. So I live vicariously through Bret, as I have through other Packer greats over the Years. This has turned out to be a good year for that. As the season progressed, more wins spurred more confidence, and thoughts of possibly the Super Bowl. All that from a team that was trying to better a 500 record. I suppose that the more you get, the more you expect. So while I'm disappointed, I am pleased that the Packers finished as one of the 4 best teams in the NFL.
There was about 20 years there between the late 60s and the late 80s where the Packers had their ups and downs, mostly downs, and I kept my loyalty to them through thick and thin. I always managed to find something to enjoy. I enjoyed Lynn Dickey at Quarterback, John Brockington and Mc Arthur Lane at running back. Or James Lofton at wide receiver, Bart Starr as head coach, and many more that don't come to mind at this moment. So I should be really happy with the outcome this year. And really excited about the possibilities for next year. And, I am. But, next season seems so far away. However, there is the upcoming draft, 2 or 3 mini camps, Free agent signings, and in August training camp again.
Don't feel too sorry for me, I'm doing enough of that for now, and, besides I don't feel too sorry for those in Seattle or Indianapolis or Dallas or any other fan that thought his team should get to the super bowl, but didn't. The bottom line is, it's only a game, and the reality of every thing will come back into focus again, and I'll get a fresh beer and watch a Brewers game.
Tom

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