A little Football and a Great Man

DISCLAIMER: I cannot believe that I will be dedicating any time to the Ute's on my blog, but I fear that I must so that this all makes sense.

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I have no local University affiliation, I went to a community college, but since marrying The Man he has encouraged a very diligent campaign to support the University of Utah Football Team (UTES) as opposed to my parents' favored Brigham Young University Football Team (BYU). In Utah there is a definite division of love and hate where these teams are concerned. The Man graduated from a separate University so his love of the Utes' is something of a way to egg the father-in-law on.

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So today I asked to take my parents to lunch for an early celebration of my dad's upcoming birthday. He picked the place, a local Italian joint, his hang-out, I was ready for them to shout out "Norm" as he came in the door. We walked in and I knew that we were in for it by what was displayed on their "Specials for the Day" sign. Below the Grilled Cod and the Chicken Caccitorie was a proud statement:

GO UTES!!!

I knew that they were in trouble.

First, he asked for a blue pen, it was in the back.

Then he asked to see the manager, he was not in today.

Then he told them that they should be ashamed to have that there and promptly erased it.

All this as we are trying to get seated with all the workers coming to witness the commotion. In the end my mom and I kindly reminded them to make note of who's' glass they were spitting in was not ours........

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We order lunch and Dad gets' his usual pizza lunch meal and it looks great. I have to say that the service was amazing; someone came along to ask us how we were doing several times and then it happened.

The discovery!!

Under the pizza, there was a note, a partially eaten note that said........

My dad loved it!!!

He was up and in the kitchen in a flash and that was when the laughing really began. Fellow patrons got in on the joke and it was a regular celebration in there. As Dad put it, "the best birthday present I have had in a long time."

It was a great afternoon spent with two of my favorite people, that just happen to be my parents!

Dad, I love you so much for who you are; for the person that you helped me to become, for all the fun that I have when I am with you, and for loving my family with such devotion. I love that The Man can come to you and know that he will get support and counsel, and most of all understanding. I love that you gave me my tool box with the knowledge of what each tool did and helped The Man become my "fix-it" man. I love that you are always there to help in whatever way we need it. I love that all my greatest memories in my life have you in them. I love that I get to spend time with you, especially when we went to the Temple together. I love that you married your sweet-heart, your true soul mate, and work so hard at being eternally blissfully happy. I love that no matter what crazy thing we are doing that you are supportive and willing to help out. I love that you love me and I know it each and everyday.
Dad I love you so much!!!
Happy Birthday Dad!!!