Relative Something

Regardless the best laid schemes of mice and men, each moment passes away into a void that holds the essence of everything that transpires. Even as we examine the collective memories of everyone who has them, from every possible angle, the reality of what was, is morphing in an uncontrollable mix with what is. Stopping is not really an option, since a moment exists in conjunction with immediate moments on either side of it, before and after. It is actually too hard to contemplate, even as we live it, each and every second.

If something is too hard to think about, we have a very simple solution. We don’t bother thinking about it. We talk about the weather, or the local sports team. In my town, the talk is all about the local NFL franchise, The Minnesota Vikings, and their current melodrama that came about as a result of the weather. We’ve got a two-for-one going on here!

At the day-job yesterday, I learned that some people feel embarrassed by the national and even international attention being paid to the collapsing roof on the team’s sports stadium. One individual reported feeling forlorn that the situation reflects badly on the people here. We have a domed stadium to be able to play despite the weather, yet the weather has the better of us anyway, ripping a few gaping holes in the fabric cover. The hosts of evening television talk shows are making jokes about the situation in their monologues.

Another aspect of the story is that the football team isn’t enjoying much success this year, far under-performing the expectations that existed at the start of the season. It provides plenty of fodder for tying together the theme of the failing team and the failing stadium roof. They are made for each other.

It is the 50th year of existence for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. As we celebrate the star players who performed their magic for us over the years, it also catches our attention that we have repeatedly failed to accomplish the ultimate goal of winning a championship Superbowl trophy. Yesterday, one of the local columnists wrote about the top 5 flops in team history.

It occurred to me that if a person were to closely identify with the team that represents their home state, and that team became known for their repeated failings, it could imprint that person’s self-image. It hits close to home for me. I was star-struck by the athletes on that team when I was young. My moods swung up and down with their successes and failures. I have never confidently believed in ultimately succeeding at anything. I have an underlying sense that whatever it is, I will most likely see things end up in a flop.

It developed over a period of time at a young age. It is a hard thing to eventually unlearn. Over time, I have gained new insight to why other folks seem to have an uncanny ability to believe they will succeed, regardless the odds. Either they are not from around here, or they never paid any attention to local sports growing up.