Fall is officially here! Well, I mean, it was "officially" officially here back on September 22nd, but you don't go by that when you live in the South; you go by the weather. And the weather has dropped to some AMAZING temperatures in the lower 80s and high 70s, so it is officially fall on my calendar!
Why do I love fall so much? Two things, mainly: cooler weather and football!
The weather thing is obvious given the 100-degree temperatures with stifling humidity we enjoy along our beautiful Gulf Coast during the summer months (and extending into September most years, like this year). It is so nice to be done with that and be able to look forward to cool, crisp autumn nights outside with loved ones!
And oh my, football. Football is basically a religion down here. We LOVE our Game Days. While Mr. L loves football just as much as I do, if not more, Game Days have not always been harmonious between the two of us. You see, I am a hardcore, crimson-and-houndstooth-wearing, Big Al-loving Alabama Crimson Tide fan. I have been since birth; it's something my dad instilled in me and my two brothers growing up. But Mr. L...he's on the other side of the "State of Alabama Football Fence." Yes, he is a hardcore, orange-and-blue-wearing, Aubie-loving Auburn Tigers fan.
If you aren't familiar with what exactly this means for our relationship, here's the run-down. Every year, since 1948, the University of Alabama plays Auburn University in what is known as
The Iron Bowl, and is the last game of both school's regular season. The winner of this game determines who has the best team in the state of Alabama (and sometimes, when ranks are high, determines who goes on to win the SEC Championship and even the National Championship!) and who gets to obtain bragging rights for the next 364 days. So it stands to reason that Alabama and Auburn's rivalry is one of the biggest school rivalries in the entire country.
In the state of Alabama, you are either for Auburn or for Alabama. Families are formed with either crimson and white colors or orange and blue colors (and sometimes as "Houses Divided"). Friends are classified as "that awesome Alabama chick!" or "that crazy Auburn lover!", and even businesses have even been known to pick sides. We live, breathe, and die Alabama or Auburn football.
It definitely has been...interesting in the past football seasons while Mr. L and I were dating. Sometimes things could get VERY heated, particularly around the time Iron Bowls were played. But, even though Mr. L will never change his colors, I knew the moment he actually attended a University of Alabama football game with me and my family at the amazing Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama that he was willing to meet me halfway and support my love for the Crimson Tide.
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| Mr. L and me, circa fall 2006 in Tuscaloosa, AL |
Since then, I have actually put aside my own distaste for the Auburn Tigers and have replaced it with this mantra: "I"ll root for Auburn anytime they're not playing Alabama" (which Mr. L has also adopted!). And I have now officially attended TWO Auburn football games at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama (oh yes, it is absolutely his turn again to get immersed in some Alabama football in Tuscaloosa!)
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| With our wonderful friends, Jonathan and Erin, on the Auburn campus in September 2009 |
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| With our same awesome friends one year later, September 2010, inside Jordan-Hare Stadium; it was our first official football game as married couples! |
It is so wonderful to be able to enjoy all of the exciting activities this time of year so close to home, our families, and our friends. Mr. L and I are soaking up as much of the experience as we can since we STILL don't exactly know where we're going for our next duty station, ugh. But that's a gripe for another post! So until next time, Happy Fall, and ROLL TIDE!
Yay! Football with good friends is the best :)
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