A Budding Fan

For three years now we have been trying to get Isis excited about the fact that she has been born into a household of Philadelphia fans. We know she has yet to learn what a privilege it is to be born into such stature. It is a little like the Italian football fans. The town where you are born determines who you will cheer for the rest of your life. Being a Philadelphia sports fan gives you fantastic labels such as loudest fans in the NFL and the crowd you don't want to be visiting. We know, we have been there. At times Chris has been that fan. There is a reputation to live up to.

Isis walked into the kitchen the other day and declared to me, "I like the Giants." I told her we say "Boo Giants!" She reminded me that Pop-Pop likes the Giants. I decided it was time to get her excited about the Eagles and told her we would be making football cookies soon. She asked, "For the Phillies?"

We have quite a ways to go. She has baseball on her mind because she has been watching games with Daddy this year...actually taking a few minutes to watch what is happening. When she is really excited she will yell at the television. Often at the wrong time. Sometimes at the wrong people. But none the less, she is yelling things baseball related.

"Victoriiiiiiiiino!" I hear the words ringing through the living room. Then she jumps and throws her hands into the air yelling, "Fear the beard!!!!" She has yet to understand exactly what those men are doing, but she is learning how to use her voice, and that makes her a fan.

So a few days ago we gathered what we needed to make our annual football cookies. She will get to have one cookie every time the Eagles play and this will build anticipation...the same anticipation her Daddy starts to feel a good 48 hours before kickoff. Of course, they are excited about two completely different things.

We decided when Isis was born that we wanted her to get excited about Sundays. We are heading to south eastern PA next week. She will get to pick out a new Eagles shirt. She will have cookies while she watches the game. She will learn to yell things at the tv and maybe even at the players. And one day, perhaps an even bigger milestone, she will learn to yell things at the other team. Welcome football season.