The Super Bowl & the Quidditch World Cup

The world is full of such amazing beauty, everywhere you look. I'm inclined to think that if you are lucky enough to have an active imagination, the world can be even more beautiful. When you can enjoy a fantasy and have it be part of your reality, that is a pretty incredible thing!
When I was two years old, I remember watching The Dark Crystal and thinking it was the coolest thing ever. At the age of five, I watched The Neverending Story and still think it is the greatest movie ever. When I was eight, I watched Labyrinth and watched it again, almost every day for a whole summer. And when I was in college, my roommate told me that I absolutely HAD to read the Harry Potter books, and they changed my life.
So needless to say, I am kind of a "fantasy nut." Since I have known my husband (who is not into the whole fantasy thing, unless it involves extreme gore in a horror movie setting), he has been heavily into the whole Fantasy Football craze. When he does his annual draft, the whole weekend has to be planned around it. Weeks of planning and preparation go into his ultimate selections. The weeks following offer no relief; staying on top of injuries, "bye weeks," and offers of trades is a full-time job (although anyone who knows my husband or who has the misfortune of playing with him may be aware that he will pretty much NEVER trade. Imagine how fun he is in a game of Monopoly!). Anyway, I've never seen the appeal of this whole Fantasy Football thing. During football season, it has been my inclination and my greatest pleasure to nap during the games, or plunge back into the world of Harry Potter. I'd rather be hanging out with Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Ginny and Luna than Roddy White and Josh Freeman (two of hubby's heroes from last year). In the past, I have had little interest in the whole thing beyond the fact that it could bring in a significant chunk of change at the season's end.
This year, it is a whole different ball game!
If you've ever met Kyle for more than one minute, you have heard his proclamation, "My name is Kyle and I LOVE football!" Over the past six months, he has learned all the teams, logos, and a great deal of the players. While Daddy has slightly encouraged him toward this interest, he never really pressed him into it, and the obsession has taken on a life of its own. Of course, seeing the excitement through his beautiful brown eyes has accomplished the impossible: it has made ME excited for football season. Because now I know all of the teams, the logos, and many of the players. I am excited for the season and to see who my husband selects for his Fantasy team. I am excited to see Kyle's favorite players (Clay Matthews and Troy Polamalu...because of their hair, of all things). I can't wait to see if his favorite team, the Carolina Panthers, will get some wins and bring joy to a four year old boy who loves them despite them being the worst team in the league. I'm excited to see how the Lions do this year...after all, they do sport my favorite color, and their mascot is a LION!!! Hello, same as the bold and brave GRYFFINDORS of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!
So for now, I get ready to dive into my first year with any interest in football. I do this joyfully for my boys. With the way Brendan is tackling his big brother, I imagine we will have another football fan in the house. So bring it on, this Mama is ready!
But I can't help but pray that there will be a day when I see at least one of my boys laying on the couch or on his bed with a big thick book in his hands, enjoying a world of fantasy that does not involve football. Dare I hope that one day, one of my boys will be inspired by the words of Albus Dumbledore? That he will wonder whether or not he should trust Professor Snape? Will he get to enjoy the beautiful and perfect tale of Good vs. Evil?
I will love my sons beyond words no matter what their interests. But if that day comes, I know that I will be able to conjure the brightest and most dazzling Patronus since 13 year old Harry's at the end of Prisoner of Azkaban.
"Expecto Patronum!"