I get this question a lot because I love the Green Bay Packers and I have for a long time but I am not from Wisconsin or even close to the state. So why do I love them? It’s actually a very sweet story that I hold very close to my heart.
I was young. Maybe 7 or 8. Could’ve been a little younger but it was around that impressionable age. My grandparents who lived in New York at the time came to visit. They visited us a couple times in a year and usually spent about a week or so with us. I always looked forward to their visit. Their visits was a highlight of my childhood.
During one of their visits, it was football season. I remember sitting by the TV and watching a football game. I’m sure I watched many games before, but this was the first game that I remembered watching. My Papa (grandfather) was in the room with me watching football with me. I didn’t know the sport, I had no idea what was happening, so of course I asked a lot of questions. My Papa patiently answered all my questions about the game and the teams. I asked him about the “green and yellow team”. He told me that they are the Green Bay Packers. He continued to talk about their quarterback and other players. He talked so highly of them. I was in awe listening to him.
So immediately, the Green Bay Packers became my favorite team. If my Papa likes them, I wanted to like them too. I felt closer to him every time I watched them play. To this day, I still love them. And every time I watch them play, I think of that day with my Papa. My Papa is no longer with us, but this is something I have forever. Something so small, can mean the world to a child and can go all the way into adulthood.
It really goes to show how much we look up to the adults in our life. Setting that positive example makes a difference in a child’s life. For this memory, my Papa took the time to watch a game with me, talk to me about it, teach me patiently, answer all my questions and as an adult I have a wonderful memory I shared with my Papa. I don’t even think he realizes how special that day was for me.
So when someone asks me why I love I the Green Bay Packers, I say it’s because of a very sweet memory I shared with my Papa as a child. And to this day, I hold on to that.
Is there a moment in your life as a child that became an interest or influenced who you are as an adult? I’d love to chat about it!
Thanks for reading!
Susana
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