For those of you who haven't figured out by now that I hail from the Land of 10,000 Lakes (Minnesota) well then, ya just aren't payin' attention - dontcha knoooow.
After a shaky but exciting 13-win season, it's time for the Purple People to pack up their pads and head home for the winter. You'd think that after 40 years living waaaay East of the Mississippi I would have become a fan of Big Blue, but you can take the boy out of Minnesota, but you can't take the Minnesota out of the boy. Congratulations to the NY Giants - the better team won; no question about it. A battle of heavyweights duking it out to the end. After all, it is just a game - which is usually what you say when you win and are trying to tactfully console the losers.
But really, it is just a game (with very high stakes and salaries), but a game nonetheless. Now more than ever, close by and around the world, we are surrounded by examples of real-life situations: that aren't a game, that really do "matter" (despite the overuse of that word), and that literally involve life and death. Cancer is one of them. Not for me per se, I'm no candidate for the Make a Wish foundation. But there are many adults and sadly too many children who tackle a formidable foe every day and must rally to come back each time a setback stops them at 4th and short.
A guy like Tom Brady may be perceived as the GOAT (love him or hate him), but the actual great players in the real game of life are the cancer patients who truly struggle to "win" - battling hard each and every day. I watched this game, and for that couple of hours fate was uncertain as I wanted my team to win. I live a life aware of so many MM patients around me who must constantly contend with the quandary of cancer as if it's their Super Bowl all the time. Early detection or late diagnosis, quick treatment/cure or numerous tiring rounds of therapy, positive prognosis or unbearable outcome - my cancer sisters and brothers are the real combatants and their heroism in the face of their imbroglio gives me perspective and humility.
