Once upon a time in a big city, I drive to the office and it’s past 9:30am. I am inexcusably late!
Not only did I oversleep right through my alarm and missed my 6am run, but the stormy skies were casting their shadows on us this morning, keeping us in the dark for a little longer than normal.
Even my son slept in: an hour past his normal wake time!
Don’t ask me what I did differently, I have no idea!
When I first heard my son at 8:14, I looked at the clock, and could not believe it was that late. The clock had to be wrong. Had to be!
Except it was not. I jumped off my bed, scooped T out of his crib and hurried in fast-forward mode through our morning routine: breakfast, getting ready, walking the dog, prepping both our lunches, and all!
As usual at this time of day, when I finally get to my destination, the office lot is full; but on top of it, parking is restricted everywhere else off street and under the overpass… Something is going on.
I opted for the parking lot under the overpass where a few other cars had already lined up.
A few hours later, the office manager reports a “high towing risk”, so I head back down shortly after Noon to park on our lot — now that a few folks have left for lunch.
And just around 2pm, they start to set camp: a few pick-up trucks, a handful of decorated school buses branded in purple and black; then the picnic tables unfold, the music gets louder and louder, And by the time it’s 4pm the crowd has tripled, the street smells like barbecue, the beer is flowing, the cheer gets louder.
Right underneath my office window, on the first floor just across the street.
It looks like a camp site, right outside car trunks, with coolers, portable grills, outrageous amounts of food, drinks and people.
This, ladies and gentleman, is football night in America.
And for football, Americans will take a day off to party in the anticipation of a big game, grill outdoors on a parking lot and get warmed up for hours before the big event. A big event most won’t even get to see, but that’s OK, they came for the atmosphere, the beer and the hot dogs; they’ll just listen to the radio.
It’s called tailgating. It’s an art, a simple pleasure for many, but it remains one of those American customs I will just never get.
I wonder if it’s just me — do you get it, do you tailgate?
It's so good to have you back! Share your thoughts, I LOVE comments!
I have never ever done it (not being an American,) but it’s on my list of Cultural Experiences I’d Like to Have Someday.
Now I just need some kind American friends to hold my hand through it sometime… and maybe so do you!
Ofthesea recently posted…Reason 65- I make my son play with rubbish
Well, I did it a few times (with my fellow American friends), but it just lasted much too long.
Plus I know nothing about football — the college type or NFL type — except the basic premise. So all that chatter and all? Bored me to death almost!
I enjoy going to a good game and warming up for 30 minutes, not 6 hours (and most people also do a cool down of 1-3 hours after that).
See, tailgate is a sport: warmup, game on, cool down.
I’ve gone to a few tailgating events. When I was first invited, I imagined a few lawn chairs, a mini BBQ grill, and some beer being served as we sit in a parking lot before a game. To my surprise, this was not the case. Tailgating as been kicked up a notch. People have thousand dollar RVs that have upgrades gallor. They also serve gourmet food: steaks with the fixings, deviled eggs, wine. Granted, not every event holds such luxuries, I would still enjoy a good old American tailgate. It’s about food, alcohol, and good times.
MamaOnDaGo recently posted…Blogging Brings Families Together by Absolutely Narcissism
Maybe I will enjoy smaller tailgating then? I’m with you the RV kills it.
I suppose one of the turn offs is that the food & drinks that are typical of tailgating are just not my favorites. At least it’s a bit better than what they serve you INSIDE the stadium
Being married to someone who doesn’t watch sports unless of course is the holy super bowl final, I never been to one but we did turned out some invitations from neighbors who do the whole BBQ and beer things in their backyard to watch football lol
Maureen recently posted…Friday Flip-offs &8211 Second Week of August
I’m more of a private tailgating kind of gal, and if someone else is hosting? That’s the best!!
Oh, I definitely get it – we tailgate! And it never occurred to me, until reading your blog, that this was an American custom! Now that I think about it, it makes perfect sense – we need more more more money, more more more food, more more more FOOTBALL…the 3 hour game just isn’t enough.
My parents have been tailgating forever, so I suppose it is a ‘learned’ custom. I have fond memories of food and family and fun in the sun – well, fun in the parking lot. Heehee…
And that’s what I’m here for, open your eyes to the special moments you may enjoy without knowing they are “made in America”
I think I am starting to get it! I can totally see how it’s a tradition and a special kind of fun. I just wish I liked football, darn it!
I enjoy tailgating only in very specific circumstances: on a lawn, in a comfortable chair, in nice weather, with a beer, with good music, and surrounded by people I like. Parking lot, bad weather, Ravens: nah.
I agree with Nicole here! Actually the tailgating parties I enjoy the most are for the Navy games @ home, for the very reasons you just spelled out.
And it’s within walking distance, eheh!
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Tailgating!! I LOVE it! Some of us start young. It’s a big social experience with good grilled food, good friends, and usually nice chilly football weather. I even went to a college where you could take tailgating as a class! Okay, not really but at Virginia Tech tailgating was an endurance event. We would start in the early morning for a game that would be a night. People we would just meet tailgating next to us would become our best friends. It is pretty darn exciting and back then, only the weak would tire. To me, it’s about celebrating team spirit and making great memories with friends! I guess I’m pretty darn American but I get so happy every year when football season is upon us! Here we go!
Maybe I’ve been tailgating with the wrong people!! I want to tailgate with you girlfriend, and dress our boys to the colors of the game! Yay!! I can’t wait! Let’s put a date on it.
What Erin describes? That is EXACTLY what I’d like to experience.
I say we all take out our planners and set up a date!
Ofthesea recently posted…Reason 65- I make my son play with rubbish
I’m with you!
I have honestly never been tailgating. I’m not big into sports. And around here, there’s tailgating for football and baseball. It’s really just an excuse to drink in the middle of the day.
Allison @ Alli n Son recently posted…Sparkling Moments
Heck, that’s exactly my initial thought, but what Erin describes truly sounds even better than that
Oh FedEx, such fond memories of dodging traffic around you…except not.
I’ve done the tailgating thing – it’s not my favorite activity in the world. However, it’s so tied in to the culture and the community around here that you can’t avoid it!
You also get really good at maneuvering the back roads.
TheSyddieGrl recently posted…Dinner is Served
We’d be really good at fast-track tailgating I supposed. It just will never be the same again with those those awesome devices called GPS!
[...] I return, the office lot is full once again, and of course there is another event (except it looks like baseball this time), and it takes me forever to find a decent spot, and [...]