It's not whether you win or lose...

So, the big game has come and gone. The Steelers lost. I was counting on them winning. I NEEDED them to win. It was supposed to be a Super Bowl victory - for Dad. Our family and friends gathered around to watch the Steelers take their seventh Super Bowl ring - one for the middle finger as Dan says. And they blew it. But it's ok. Everybody has bad days. On some level I thought if the Steelers won that it would bring him back. We're all still grappling with the fact that no matter what, he's not coming back. It's such a hard concept and I still have trouble wrapping my head around it. He was here playing with the kids, singing, riding four wheelers...and then he was gone. I thought the Steelers winning would have made us feel a little bit closer to him. Like he was looking down - cheering the victory with us. But now that it's all over, I realize that winning wouldn't have made any difference. That we all still would be here, missing him. But more than that, I realize that winning really doesn't matter. Sure it's great when it happens, but it's not really about that. It's about being a part of something that ties us all together. Dad loved the Steelers win or lose, just like he loved us win or lose. He taught us to be proud of where we were from, to stick together even when times are rough and to never, ever give up. These are lessons that we will always carry with us and THAT is what makes me feel closer to him. And as far as the Steelers go, there's always next year.