Roll Tide

John and I are used to not fitting in.  We have not ever.  We used to live in ranching and logging country as vegetarian environmentalist.  Fortunately people found us intriguing and continued to be our friends.  In Alabama we don't fit in with almost every major indicator of the state's standards.  We are not conservative, we do not belong to a religious institution, we do not eat butter for months at a time, in fact we like health food, we are not afraid of snakes and we collect insects for the fun of it.  All of these things we have managed to over come and still eek out a few adventurous(sp?) friends and followers. 

But..

The one area where we consistently stand out is that we do not watch or route for a collage football team.  (Insert shunning gasp of shame here) Sure, if people ask me I will say that I am an Alabama fan.  I was born into an Alabama family and for those of you who live in the South East, you know that changing allegiances is not advised. 

Yet, I have not watched a football game in years.  Heck, we don't even have a TV so I have not watched anything in years. 

The reason I am bringing this up, is because yesterday I had a strange grocery store experience.  I went to Publix to pick up a few things for a special gotcha day dinner for Isaac.  I wanted to get each of the boys a red balloon.  My first stop was logically the balloon place.  Unfortunately they were out of helium.  Not good, that was my plan.  So, I look up and see two maroon mylar balloons on a rack and ask if I can just have those. 

Mind you I buy balloons once in a blue moon, so I was not smart enough to get these last.  My next stop after the balloons was the wine.  I am standing there trying to figure out just what will go well with hot dogs and corn chips.  A guy comes up to me and shouts "Roll Tide."  I politely respond "Roll Tide" while wondering what prompted such a greeting.  I then go to the chip isle and I go on my in depth search of chips that are organic with no GM's.  Again I get a "Roll Tide that was some game."  "Ah, yeah"  I mumble thinking to myself, what game? 

The night of the big game John and I ate dinner on the porch with the boys while we literally cried tears from laughing so hard at the amazing things our boys were doing. 

I get about 12 more "Roll Tides" before I get to the check out counter.  This is strange I think to myself.  Then when I am checking out I have an epiphany.  The two maroon balloons I picked out are Alabama Balloons, provoking all the good will and cheer.  I had no idea I was missing out on such positive energy until my bazaar experience. 

Fortunately I thrilled Isaac and Emerson with two balloons, a dinner of hot dogs over rice with corn chips and sorbet for desert.  Isaac informed me that it was the best night ever.  Roll Tide little buddy!