Box Seats!

My sister ended up not going to the game with me yesterday. Her husband called me at about 8:00 yesterday morning to tell me that she had gotten sick, and wasn't going to be able to go. I couldn't get anyone to go on such short notice (Sarah? I thought of calling you and talking you into going with me, but I didn't think you'd appreciate your phone ringing at 8:00 on a Sunday morning. You're welcome), so we tried my sister's sons, and while they all wanted to go, none of them could, either because they're being ruled by their girlfriends and couldn't, or in the case of one of them, because of church commitments. Although who would pick church over press box seats to a Syracuse/Villanova game? Especially if you love basketball and would love to go? I think just one person, and he happens to be my nephew. Sigh. So I called my brother-in-law back and basically talked him into going with me because he felt bad that my sister had to stay home on such short notice. I felt a little bad about commandeering his Sunday, but I didn't feel bad for long, because it was a fantastic experience.

Imagine going to a game, and getting to walk up into this semi-private box area, getting fed from a line of chaffing dishes, including salmon (which I tried for the first time in my life, and actually liked) and carved roast beef, and a dessert table that included mini cheesecakes of all flavors and a large tiramisu cake, which is what I had, and it was heaven. And then getting to your table to find that you have gifts! A Nextel thermos and an Otto the Orange (the SU mascot) bobblehead. Cool! And getting to watch the game without being surrounded by the masses, but instead sitting over top of them, and having a pretty great view of the court. It was great. And it was Gerry McNamara's last game in the Dome, and it was very emotional, and I almost cried, I admit. Almost. And even though they lost, it was a lot of fun, and I clapped so hard that my arms hurt later, and still ache now.

And I'm sad that my sister didn't go with me, because even though she doesn't watch basketball, we would have had fun together, but I'm glad that her husband did go with me, because he's a cool guy and he's very fun to hang out with.