Friday Night Lights

Texas high school football is no joke. Before we moved down here, Jeff and I talked about wanting to go see a good high school game. We decided on Southlake Carroll v. Coppell, two rival top-ranked 5A teams from nearby suburbs. Coincidentally, Jeff works with one attorney whose son plays in the Coppell band and another attorney whose young family lives in the Southlake school district. All of a sudden, we had a group of friends to sit with at the game.

Then we really took a risk and asked some of our other friends (our age and child-less) from Jeff's work if they had any interest in going. Megan and Anthony politely, but enthusiastically, replied in their email that they "we're going to sit this one out, but y'all have fun!" Shoot. Melissa and Matt, on the other hand, seemed to be just as excited as us and quickly accepted our invite. Yay!

 

We heard from people at our respective workplaces that the Southlake stadium is huge and is basically a small college stadium. Then we were told that we should purchase tickets online before the game to make sure we're able to get seats because these teams sell out. Hmm. So I google more info about Southlake's Dragon Stadium and learn that it seats 11,000 people. It's even been the location for sports commercials. Holy moly.

We show up and see the giant blow-up football helmets on the field ready for the players to run out of. Then they start the fog machines and we're pretty impressed. But not nearly as amazed as when we notice the giant scoreboard and jumbo-tron screen thing on the other end of the stadium. Wowzers. 

Insane.

Totally insane.

 The coaches even wear headphones (they must be talking to Peyton Manning up in the box). Crazy. Poor Bishop Luers.

Major bonus - Chick-Fil-A at the concession stand. 

Happy.

There was one other thing that made my night even more incredible. I learned that Melissa, originally from El Paso, grew up with a horse and........wait for it............roped cattle!

 

I've made friends with and am sitting next to a real-deal 100% cowgirl! 

me, cowgirl Melissa and Matt

She was wearing brown leather cowgirl boots and proudly said she really did wear hers riding her horse (named Star) growing up. I curiously inquired, and she told me, so nonchalantly, that she was initially a show jumper but later started calf roping. I have no doubt that my head immediately tilted like a puppy's when you ask it a question.

Back up, I said. Like the rodeo?? Yeah, cowgirl Melissa replied and said her parents sold her horse when she left for college.

Back up more, I said. You're telling me you know how to lasso and race around on a horse?

 

She said yes and laughed at me a little. I hit Jeff on the leg and say, "Did you just hear that Melissa is a cowgirl and a calf roper??" I ask cowgirl Melissa how she learned to do that.

Again, so like-it's-nothing-in-the-world-to-race-a-horse-and-chase-a-freaking-calf-by-holding-on-with-only-your-legs-while-swinging-a-lasso-and-then-roping-the-damn-thing, cowgirl Melissa says, "just playing around." Really. Just playing around.

I told her it was too much for me to digest and that I was going to have to think about all of this some more. Cowgirl Melissa has no idea how many questions I have for her the next time we get together.

I'm not sure I was able to concentrate on the football game after that point, although I do know that Southlake was victorious.

That night was so much more than I could have ever hoped for.

 

M