I looked out the window as I tried to decide what to wear to last Saturday's football game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the home town team, the Oklahoma Sooners. The sky was filled with many colors of grey. Low lying rain clouds rushed quickly across a light grey backdrop. Brown leaves blew across the yard, and the wind caused the window panes to creek. I could tell it was cold without even opening the door.
I walked to my closet and picked out a long-sleeved University of Oklahoma shirt that was once my husband’s. Thankfully it was too small for him, since it fit me perfectly at seven months pregnant.
As the howling wind beat against our windows, I wondered why we had come home for this game. We cut our Thanksgiving celebration short to support our team, and I smiled proudly at the thought of being a Sooner.
“I want you to wear my rain jacket,” my husband said as he walked in the room. “Wow! You look cute!”
“I wanted to surprise you with the shirt, I thought it was cute and warm, but now no one will see it,” I replied sullenly.
Cameron could tell I wasn’t looking forward to the game, but then again I don’t think he was either. We were going to this game more out of duty and tradition than desire. We don’t miss OU home games, and we had even more reason to attend this one: it would be our last home game without a child.
Cameron went out to the car as I finished getting ready, and when he returned his face was red. “I think you’ll need to wear a warmer jacket. Please wear my fleece. It’s really cold outside.”
“Fine, but I don’t think I’ll need it.”
When I walked outside I realized he was right, I did need something heavier than a rain jacket. We got in the car and I was ecstatic that we were actually leaving on time. It was 9 a.m., which meant there were two hours until kickoff. I was optimistic that we would find a parking spot since it was a holiday weekend. I doubted many people would be there.
I was right about the dismal crowd. We pulled into a free parking spot adjacent to the stadium, a small lot reserved for those with current OU parking permits. There were only a few empty spots there, but in the paid lots there were many empty spots.
The rain began as a mist on our window as we sat in our car. “Can we just stay in here until closer to kickoff?” I didn’t feel like sitting in the stadium for over an hour just to be in there. I was enjoying the warm car, as well as the seat heaters that we lovingly refer to as butt warmers.
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