Gala Birthday Weekend - Part TWO - Carolina Panthers

For part of my birthday present, *** took me to the Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons game, Sunday 9/28. I'd never been to a PRO football game. I wasn't sure if I'd have a good time, if the seats would be decent, if it would be any fun, if I'd rather just watch the game on TV!

Well. I had a GRAND time! We had no traveling problems, got to the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC in plenty of time. *** didn't remember me telling him I'm afraid of heights, so when we first got there and found our seats - it took me a good five or ten minutes of holding on VERY tight to be sure I wouldn't just topple over and fall all the way down. This was one of the first times I was able to actually look down - before most of the fans had arrived. They were still out in the parking lots having lunch! This pic is pregame.

How high were the seats? All seats had anti-nosebleed kits. We were in the end zone - highest section. In this pic, our seats would be just under the sign - in the nice, shady section (toward the right of center endzone). After the stadium filled up, my "falling down"-heights thing was all better, and by the end of the game, I was jumping up and down like the rest of the fans. Our neighbors were nice and loud and fun to be around. They had their own cheers (What'd we get? FIRST DOWN! What'd'ya want? TOUCHDOWN!! wooo-hooo!!!) and were very friendly. I didn't feel like I missed anything - we were directly across from one of the big screens - just catch the instant replay. It was great, wonderful fun.

It was a perfect fall day for football. And thanks to their OUTSTANDING defense, Panthers won 24-9. *** says it was their quarterback, Jake Delhomme, who won the game - he did have an excellent day - but I think it was a combination of the fans (including ME!) screaming and cheering, along with the defense, and the offense. Okay - so it was mostly us fans! And - because I haven't mentioned Anna in this Gala Birthday Celebration - I just want you to know - I still see her everywhere. This girl was about four rows down from us... look familiar? This was my third birthday without Anna - which means more than how old I am (51, now). This Jennifer is Three.
Thanks to all of you who have held my hand and helped me make it this far.

Gala Birthday weekend 2008 - Part ONE - My Special Birthday Visitor!!

Because Ashley is a direct, personal friend of Barack Obama, he emailed her to invite her to Greensboro to hear him speak on MY birthday. So she invited Jessica & me to go along with her (and about 20,000 of our closest buddies). So off we went!

We waited in line about two hours... can you tell we were EXCITED to be there to hear the next President of the United States of America!!

Ashley with new t-shirt ready to go through security check... that's one of our "standing in line" friends in front of her.

Here we've made it through the line, through security and are waiting for the Stars of the Show to arrive. Notice the police snipers atop building roofs - they were everywhere...

Waiting...

Jes' new shirt...

Finally, Senator Joe Biden and Senator Barack Obama!!! We went CRAZY! We could hardly believe we were actually there - we were THERE with the NEXT PRESIDENT!!!

Jessica used her "flip" to record part of the speech...

Of course, his speech was passionate and intelligent and inspiring. So GLAD he decided to come see me on my Birthday!