I think that it's pretty safe to assume that everyone has a bucket list of sorts. Rather it's written down on paper or something they keep track of in their heads. We all have things we want to see or do while we are here on Earth.
One item that has for a long time been on my bucket list is to watch MY Kentucky Wildcats cut down the nets in a National Title Game. However, this bucket list item is very unique. It has just as much control over me as I have over it. I can't always just go the the Final Four and the boys don't always make it.
Last year, my Wildcat's made it to the Final Four in Houston for the first time in 13 years. Since my parents live in Houston, things were easy. So off the entire family went. However, the boys lost to UCONN in the semi-finals and there was no strike mark made on my bucket list that year.
This year, the Final Four was in NOLA and my sister was fortunate to get tickets in the lottery. So the two of us decided to throw a little bit of caution to the wind and schedule the trip. Little did we know in the beginning that this Kentucky team would be one for the history books. One deemed by many is unbeatable.
Throughout each round of this years Big Dance, I watched with fear, happiness, excitement, and a nervousness in the pit of my stomach. No matter the opponent, I watched each game as if it were their last.
Low and behold, the boys made it to The Final Four and our plans were not in vain. So off I went last weekend to Blue Orleans.
The first game was against our arch nemesis, Louisivile. I went into the game nervous as hell and not wanting to have a season ending loss to U of L of all teams. My fears were subsided when we won,
Then it was off to the championship game. The moment we got to the Superdome for the pre-game pep rally a storm came and we had to rid it out in the parking garage. That was until I spotted an over-sized garbage bag on a city truck. I took it as a sign to use it to remain dry as we raced into the Dome.
From tip-off to the final buzzer, I could hardly stand still. Even when we were up by 14 at the half, I still couldn't breath. It wasn't until the final buzzer sounded and the fireworks and streamers fell, that I could relax. I had seen The Kentucky Wildcats capture their 8th National Title.
This win was very special for me in a variety of ways. One being that I could cross something off my bucket list. Something that I had very little control over. Also, it had been nearly 17 years since my family had moved from The Commonwealth of Kentucky to New Orleans. When we moved there, I thought my life was over. Although I have learned to love and accept that change in my life, Kentucky Basketball was something that I always had to keep me close to home.
As a sports fan, I always say that no matter how good the team is, there is always a little bit of luck involved. Last weekend, there was luck all around me....with a side of karma.
Things make sense to me now...I was destined for Gr8tness....I felt like my journey from Kentucky to NOLA had come full circle.
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