I’m still fairly new to the sports fanatics club. Alright, maybe not that new, I have been a sports nut for about eight years now. Yeah, that’s it. Not since I was born. I know, surprising right?
I developed my love of all things football and hockey thanks to my sports nut husband. I swear he was born wearing hockey skates and throwing a football. Way back in the day he took me to my first ever Pens game when the Mellon was still around. I was excited and surprised. I mean what kind of man takes his hockey noob girlfriend to a hockey game instead of his friends? My kind of man, that’s who!
I was in awe as we walked in. Sure I’d been to the Mellon before but that was when Disney on Ice was there. We weren’t going to see Disney on Ice. I remember that game like it happened yesterday. The Pens were playing the Flyers. It was thrilling. It was exciting. I had a beer while shouting at men who beat the daylights out of each other. Why hadn’t I been exposed to that amazing atmosphere before?? Why did nobody tell me how amazing hockey was? Why didn’t anyone smack me and say what the hell is wrong with you for never going to a hockey game before??
My man then surprised me with my very first sports paraphernalia. A Penguin t-shirt. That shirt is eight years old. That shirt is about as holy as Sunday. This brings me to why I am writing this very strange article.
I retired my very first sports t-shirt yesterday. I cried a small tear as my torn Crosby t-shirt got put into the box no more wearing but can’t part with them clothes. It was a good t-shirt. It got me through my days as a bartender. It covered my pregnant belly at the beginning of my pregnancy 5 years ago. I wore it RIGHT after my wedding. (The Pens played the Flyers…and won. What a wedding gift!) If I wouldn’t have gotten strange looks I would have worn it TO my wedding.
I remember the first hole. I lifted my arms to jump off my couch and I heard that rip. Then another appeared. And another. And another.
But you don’t throw a shirt like that away. That’s blasphemy. It’s just not done. Sure I wear my official jersey now, but that worn out shirt has so many sentimental memories. It was the first thing I really loved that the husband bought me. It was the first gift. I actually changed into it right in the middle of the arena during intermission. Love and hockey…is there anything better? Now, well now it’s time to say so long to the old friend. We’ve watched many a game together. Had much nacho cheese dropped on us, beers spilled, and good times with good people.
You did good shirt. You did good.
