The Magic Circle

I'm not sure if it's the same with other football fans but here in Wisconsin we are extremely superstitious. In addition to the usual (usual??) superstitions like making sure to wear the same socks for each game or bringing out the Packer prayer rug (Not kidding...these really exist) we have what we call "magic circles". This means that whoever was invited to watch the big game MUST be in attendance for the next one. The game has to be watched at the same place - no moving it to the local bar if you watched at home or moving it to someone else's house. This rule can only be broken if the original host becomes terminally ill and is unable to host the game party. Even if they are ill, if they are well enough to lay on the couch connected to life support - they host. Lucky food products have to be purchased - no changing the menu at the last minute. If you started the season with the hot wings, you end it with the hot wings. And, everyone has to sit in exactly the same place they sat at the last game. No exceptions - so get a comfy spot early in the season or you're going to have a sore ass by the playoffs.

Next week, the Pack takes on New York at Lambeau. (Oh the joy! Did I mention Dallas lost?) My family and a select few friends will be, once again, at my sister's home. We will have Brett Favre Beer Brats (Not making this up - we have those here in WI.), guacamole and chips, Greenbay Packer cookies, and (drum roll please) hot wings. We will also drink Brandy and the occasional beer. (Did you know Wisconsin consumes more Brandy than any other state? I'm not sure why...) We will wear our Packer gear - the EXACT same gear that we have been wearing to each game all season long. We choose our Packer wardrobe seriously because if the Pack has a good season, we'll be wearing it a long time! My sister's home will be a virtual shrine to the Packers. She will have her life size cut out of Brett Favre next to her fireplace. He will be wearing his Superbowl - New Orleans beads and have his Packer towel cast over his shoulder in a jaunty manner. On the side table, covered with a Packer table cloth, she will lovingly place every single newspaper that has ever had a headline about the Packers which will artfully surround a framed team photo signed by Mike McCarthy which she won in an auction. In front of this will be the unopened jar of Gilbert Brown peanut butter.

On the entertainment center, there will be every food product container that any Packer ever graced - baked beans, Wheaties, Campbell's soup cans, etc. Just below the rather large screen TV she will have hung Reggie White's jersey with the honor and reverence it so deserves. On the backs of the two couches will be, at least, 6 or 7 Packer blankets and she will have covered all the throw pillows with Packer t-shirts. We will sit in this order, from left to right, Kelly, Kathy, Terry, me, Carrie, Patsy, Peter, George. This is our sacred circle. We would like to be pleasant and invite more to join us but we cannot. That could mean disaster for the Pack. Those other people will have to find someplace else to watch the game. Get their own circle. We will be loud. The dog will have to be put in the basement for saefty purposes.

And, by god, the Pack will win!