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Superbowl bound once again

So my beloved Patriots made the Superbowl again. I couldn't be more thrilled although it is a little bittersweet for me not being in Boston during this time. Some of my favorite memories of the last 8 years involve the Patriots and Red Sox - it is so much fun to be a fan in your city when your team is doing well. There is a camaraderie that exists amongst strangers during the playoffs that is absent the rest of the year - people on the subway nod to you if you are wearing your teams hat or jersey, parents picking up their kids from school exchange a few words when they would normally stay silent, people smile more and life feels just a tiny bit easier for a while. With the exception of the last 2 years, I have watched just about every Patriot playoff game at a bar with friends. It is such a fun experience - the collective crowd cheering and booing at choice moments, people high fiving each other and beer flowing freely. I've had some of the best moments of my life watching these games and even though I was really excited yesterday, I also got a little sad thinking of not being there with my friends for this amazing ride. Not to mention I am in enemy territory right now. The last time the Giants and Patriots met in the Superbowl, was perhaps the worst day of my life. I'll never forget it - my family all gathered at my brother Joe's house to confidently watch the undefeated Patriots kick some serious New York ass. The Patriots were so highly favored and no one thought the Giants stood a chance. We were all in such a good mood - eating and drinking and laughing during the game until the fourth quarter hit and a bomb was dropped in the middle of that jovial party. When the Giants took the lead, a silence so thick you could see it fell on the room. The game ended and everyone just got up and walked out the door without so much as a goodbye. It was utterly heartbreaking and I haven't forgotten that feeling - pure shock and devastation. This may all sound a little dramatic but growing up in such a rabid sports city makes you a tad bit crazy. I have mixed feelings about this rematch - on the one hand, revenge would be so, so sweet but on the other hand, my poor heart can't take the pain again if they lose. It just can't, especially being in a city that is supporting the wrong team. I'm a little worried about my ability to keep my mouth shut when all the muscle head dudes at the gym start trash talking my team - it will be quite a challenge to keep civil and composed but I have to do it. I'm not sure I will be able to stay here for the game - on the off chance the Patriots lose again, I will be all alone in my misery rather than surrounded by other grieving fans. It might all just be too much. So fingers crossed that in two weeks I will be happily riding a bus home to Boston proudly sporting my #12 jersey and feeling hopeful that this time around the result will be very different.

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