Coming home for winter break, some college students missed home-cooked meals, others missed sleeping back in their own beds and a ton missed their pets. For me though, what I missed most is watching football with my dad and brothers.
It started at 8:00 AM on Sunday morning when my family stormed into my room chanting “squish the fish,” an acknowledgment to our favorite team’s game against their division rivals in the Miami Dolphins. From there, conversations circulated around my room debating which pizza place we should order from for the game. “Guys, it’s 8 in the morning” I exclaimed, “the game doesn’t start till 1.”
This is what I have missed most while being away at school and is what I have been looking forward to in my return this holiday break.
For my family, football watching on Sunday has been a staple for us. It’s where we can all come together and connect on the same playing field, rooting for our favorite team.
Being home is always a joy, especially during the holiday season, but there’s something about watching football with my family that I just miss. It’s not the same as watching it in my dorm room on my laptop or sitting all cooped up in a cubicle up in the stacks of the school library.
Don’t get me wrong though, I have missed home-cooked meals and sitting at the dinner table with my family. Reconvening and discussing the events that transpired throughout our day has always been a past time for us. It is something I am not able to do too often because I am away and those moments have always been held close to my heart.
I also have missed my bed. Lounging out in my home bed beats the constricting bunk bed that I sleep in back at school every night of the week. Not only my home bed do I miss, but having blinds that can actually keep out the light from the sun has been an added bonus to being back at home.
And yes, I have missed my dog. Have a furry friend that comes prancing over to me at my beckoning call with toy in his mouth and a wagging tail always brightens my day.
However, none of this is comparable to the activity that I have missed the most during my sojourn at home.
Regardless of the outcome of the game, what matters most to me is being able to sit down and watch with my family. It’s a great feeling to be able to sit with fans that exude the same amount of passion and ferocity for the team we love. It’s not only the single greatest thing that I love to do, but it’s what I have missed the most while being away.