This one is "Oldest Child Edition."
I was talking to Tucker as I drove home from work on Tuesday (I think), and he mentioned that if the Vikings playoff game gets moved to Phoenix he will probably have to go because everything will be cheaper due to the change. "Why would it get moved?" I asked. Then I learned that they are scheduled to play in LA and may have to be moved due to the wildfires.
"Well. Use your judgement, I guess," was my response, and we moved on.
Wrong answer.
Note here that Tucker has been a Vikings fan since the beginning of time. I know he loved Adam Thielen, and it seems like there was a Vikings player before that who was also a favorite. The College Station, Texas, kid has been a Vikings fan for life.
Fast forward to Wednesday night when we start getting text alerts that our credit card has been used. A flight. A hotel room. Then we get a phone call.
"Hey. I booked the trip to Phoenix on your credit card. Just tell Dad to take the money out of my savings."
Ummmm...what?
So many questions. Do you have a ticket to the game? (no - they go sale tomorrow) When will you leave? (Monday) When will you get back? (Tuesday) Is anyone going with you? (no) When do classes start? (Tuesday)
Yall. This takes sports-obsessed to a new level. An even higher level than when he got in the car and drove to Omaha and back TWICE last year to see the Aggies in the College World Series. This isn't even the Aggies, for goodness sake!
On Thursday he scored his first ever NFL Playoff game ticket for about $140, and it's on the first deck.
Then yesterday on my drive home he calls me. "Mom, I need to tell you something that is going to stress you out but I've already worked it out."
This immediately stresses me out.
Turns out the cheapest way to pull off this little 24 hour football trip was to leave from one airport in Houston and return to the OTHER airport in Houston. No worries, though, because he's already got a plan for a cousin to handle the airport transport situations.
Here's his plan:
Leave Houston around 10:00 a.m. Monday, fly Frontier Airlines to Denver where he'll have a layover and then arrive in Phoenix at 3:45. Uber to the stadium with a stop at the hotel so he can drop off his carry-on bag. Game starts at six.
After the game, find a bar nearby to hangout until the traffic clears out. Uber back to the hotel. Leave the hotel at 4:00 a.m. for a flight home (to the other airport in Houston) with another layover in Denver - this one only 45 minutes.
Not to worry, though! He's already called the hotel to make sure he has a super late check-in and verified that the Cardinals stadium has the seventh cheapest beer of any NFL stadium.
Goodness.
This is him. My child. Traveling alone to a foreign land.
I take deep breaths. Remind myself he's a resourceful kid. Start word-vomiting to Trey all the things that could go wrong. Trey then reminds me, "We wanted them to believe they can do anything. And if we taught them anything it's how to travel." And he's right again.
I have given specific instructions: Keep your phone charged so I can track you at all times. Avoid white vans. Don't drink too much because you will be robbed and kidnapped and left in the gutter.
Today he mentioned he needed to email his professors to let them know he would be missing the first day of class. "What are you going to tell them?" I asked.
"That I had the chance of a lifetime at the last minute to see a Vikings playoff game and will be missing the first day of class. I'm not going to lie."
So there's that, I guess.
I'm telling you, these children are testing me.
Now I suppose I'll just pray that the flights are on time, that the people he makes friends with along the way appreciate his Vikings-obsession and are kind to him, and dear Lord please let the Vikings win because if they lose we will be talking about the money he spent for years to come.
If you know anyone in Phoenix or anyone who loves the Vikings enough to be at this game, tell them to keep an eye out for Tuck.
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