Yesterday, I stood outside Lambeau Field again. This wasn’t my first trip to Lambeau. I’ve been to Green Bay a couple of times, including a summer visit when we toured the Hall of Fame, posed by the Lombardi statue, and watched fans do the Lambeau Leap.
The trip I remember most was in September, 2006, when I drove my three boys all the way to Green Bay to watch the Packers play the Bears. I drove 15 1/2 hours to get here and on September 10, 2006 we watched the Packers play the Bears.
Here’s the crazy part. Our tickets came from Brett Favre himself! I stood at the Will Call window sure it was all a joke until they handed me the envelope. Sigh of relief! I honestly thought as I went up to the window, “There is no way Favre actually left tickets, what am I doing here!?”
The boys bought new Cheeseheads, the only souvenirs they wanted, and we wandered the Hall of Fame. Then we found our seats in section 120, right on the 50-yard line on the Packers’ side. A man sitting behind us turned out to be the dad of one of the players, and he got the boys some signatures after the game. They were over the moon. He had us meet him at the hotel where his son was staying. It was a magical moment getting the autographs.
The Packers lost 26–0. It was Favre’s first shutout ever, and we were there for it. We still had a blast despite the gut wrenching loss. My oldest was just happy that he got to see Brett Favre throw a pass to Donald Driver!
That trip had its share of adventure: a car that wouldn’t start, a tow truck in the pouring rain, and plenty of Cracker Barrel. Those boys were up at 6 a.m. every single morning, ready to go. I wouldn’t trade a mile of it! We made great memories!
Standing there yesterday, twenty years later, I could almost hear the boys cheering. Some places hold memories so tightly that you feel them the minute you walk up. Lambeau Field is one of those places for me. It was great to go back for a brief visit and remember the goos times there.
What place takes you right back to a wonderful memory?
