Texans Road Trip (the Mr MacDonald version)
First of all let me say a HUGE thank you to all that made this trip possible. To Todd and Lori, their parents, Carol and Cordell, Kendall and Wayne, Brad and Stephanie, Eric and Elaine and Kids you guys are awesome, I am inspired and humbled by your generosity and servant hearts.
For those who don’t know me well, the Houston Texans are an NFL team (American Football) and I am a genuine fanatic. Going to a game at their home stadium in Houston has been on my ‘bucket list’ since they team was established in 2002. Aria’s coming to America took that dream from “yeah right” to “hmmmm, we could make this happen”. Thanks to Todd and Lori and others too, it did happen and it was an amazing experience.
Flying down to Houston Saturday afternoon was a strange experience. I don’t think that I have done much of anything wife and kidless since before Aria was born. It was a strange feeling of freedom and loneliness. Hobby Airfield in Houston was a weird place, the main entrance was under the carpark and had abot 8 lanes of pickup/drop off zone, creating an environment consisting almost entirely of exhaust fumes. I got a taxi to the inn and immediately found behind the counter a fellow Texans fan who was almost as excited about the game as I was. He invited me to his tailgate, which to those in NZ can be best described as a BBQ/party in the parking lot of the stadium complete with food, drink, games, tvs, loud music and endless team flags etc all done under tents.
Sunday morning Todd came, all the way from Dallas, and got me bright and early (12pm kickoff for the game) and we headed to Reliant Stadium. Now Reliant is an extraordinary place. It has a retractable roof, is fully airconditioned, seats about 75,000 people, has extraordinary facilities and large carparks all around it. As we walked up to the stadium, we were surrounded by tailgaters, which is something NZ should embrace it really added to the atmosphere. The stadium itself is huge and has stores, tons of concession stands and lots of things to see and do around it.
Inside the stadium is also impressive, it seems no matter where you sat or went you felt close to the field. TV screens were scattered all through the concourse so you never missed a moment of the build up or action. We were seated in a section that seemed to be about 50% Cowboys fans (the opponents and the instate rival to the Texans) which was great for Todd who was also a Cowboy fan. It was neat to see all the pregame drills and rituals and the intros were very cool.
The game itself was a sorry affair for the Texans which didn’t matter so much because the experience of being there overwhelmed the loss. It was interesting to note that American fans seem to be just as proud to leave early when the going tough as New Zealand crowds are. By the end of the game there were probably more Cowboys fans left than Texans fans, which is a wee bit shameful on the fans of Texans football.
After the game Todd took me to a BBQ joint which was awesome. It had big rolls of paper which served as ‘plates’ and the food was great. Todd and I indulged in a pint of Peach Cobbler….. each, eyes > belly, for sure.
We then drove ‘home’ to Dallas, which was a great trip, not so much for the Texas scenery but the really great conversation that was enjoyed between two new friends. We also stopped in Fairfield, home to one of our New Zealand Americans and stopped in at their Dairy Queen which seemed to be unchanged since it was built back in the 60’s, it was very small town America.
Early Monday I was back on a plane to Omaha, feeling happy and tired. Stopping over in St Louis, Anita revealed to me the news that Aria was a guest at the hospital. Thanks Anita for keeping things quiet and to those who helped her manage Asher during that time. Thankfully Aria got out just after I arrived in Omaha, and she was none the worse for wear.
So all in all, it was an amazing weekend, shared with an awesome guy, and enabled by awesome people. What a blessing.
15 Responses to “Texans Road Trip (the Mr MacDonald version)”
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# 1 Oct at 10:42 am
Awesome, Hamish! I’m so glad you enjoyed your trip to the game. What a treat for you!!! Looks like you can take that item off your “bucket list”…
So thankful that all is well again with Aria. Still praying…
In His love,
Carolyn O’Cain
# 1 Oct at 11:48 am
Looks like you had an awesome time! Too bad the Texans didn’t win while you were there. The stadium looks huge from your picture! I’m glad Aria is doing better! God Bless!
# 1 Oct at 12:07 pm
Love your pics and video!!! So nice to have seen you again….only sad that it was minus your sweet family. Until next time though…..
# 1 Oct at 12:48 pm
Great story Hamish and great for you to have such a super time of it all-it must have recharged your batteries too! So now Anita will be planning her big day out????????????
– Jeannie O
# 1 Oct at 12:54 pm
Great to hear you had such an enjoyable time. A win would have been great but just being there sounded wonderful. I loved when you said you a had a feeling of both freedom and loneliness. How true that must have been!
# 1 Oct at 1:48 pm
Good on ya !
# 1 Oct at 2:04 pm
Thanks to all those involved in making this awesome experience possible for Hamish, so pleased he was able to go and see his team play and to spend some time with some great new friends. Praise God
Thanks too Anita for being a great wife and mum and coping so well with Aria’s unexpected visit to hospital so that Ham could enjoy his weekend Love to all Mum
# 1 Oct at 4:36 pm
The fun and euphoria drips throughout your sentences – am so thrilled you got to have this experience – yay for new found friends and for good times. So pleased Aria doing well and that Anita did so well. X
# 1 Oct at 5:16 pm
This is awesome, thank you Hamish for sharing your good times with us all, its wonderful going around with you all enjoying US of A hehe! Thank you for sharing your lives there while we are miles apart, praise God for He is sooooo gooood indeed amen! Enjoy life!!
# 1 Oct at 6:11 pm
Sounds like you had such a fantastic experience! Good on you for achieving one of your dreams!
# 1 Oct at 8:11 pm
Enjoyed the pics very much and so pleased the weekend ended up well for all involved except the Texans loss.Hats off to Anita for her handling Aria’s illness and accepting a helping hand for Asher. This is what Christian friends do.
# 2 Oct at 12:37 am
I’m so pleased you nad a great weekend, Hamish, and glag that Aria is much better. I still pray for you all daily. Blessings, Judy.
# 2 Oct at 4:50 am
I’m so stoked that you were able to have this wish granted! Awesome!
# 2 Oct at 1:20 pm
So well written Ham! I really felt you’re excitment. Really felt like a had a sneak, peak into your trip. So glad that you got to have this experience of a lifetime!! You are amazing and so deserved this special trip. Anita, you’re equally amazing for coping with Aria and Ashie by yourself and managing the little “hiccup” with Aria along the way, I’m sure that can’t have been easy at all. Really missed you guys yesterday. xxx
# 4 Oct at 4:06 pm
Loved you getting this trip. Reminded me of our experience in Alabama going to a big game. It sure is something. And tailgating- a great invention that is worth copying! blessings Nola