In my journey to become a better woman, friend, sister, daughter, girl friend, role model and confidant - a recurring theme presides at every stop... and that's "knowing the game."

Growing up, I cheered on the Redskins through their ups and downs (mostly downs) with my father... being none the wiser as to why in the world the 'Skins were THE team, or what in the world they were doing to get all of my fathers admiration.  I thought watching the cheerleaders was fun... and half time usually provided some source of enterainment... and the commercials always seemed more interesting during football games.  But the nonesense of men beating up men over a ball was simply incomprehensible.

A couple years ago, I discovered the value of understanding football.  I used the 2007 NFL / NCAA football season as my reference, and I overloaded my patient boyfriend with tons of questions..... every... single....game. Part of the reason (obviously) was so that I could still spend time with him during the season... but the bigger reason was because the more I knew, the more fascinating it became. I still don't completely get it, but I enjoy watching the games now, I have my personal reasons for a team preference, and I still get to keep my boyfriend during football games.

All jokes aside - there's a bigger theme to this than "great, KP understands football, big deal." The theme is that there is a huge world out there that's open for the taking - you just have to want to take it.  With knowledge comes understanding, and with understanding... well... your options are limitless.  The more you take the time to know someone, or something, or somewhere - the more appreciation there is to be had.  I'm probably just glorifying a cliche we all have heard a million times... but every now and then, we just need a little reminder.

Go Vikings!