A Super Bowl Watcher Looks At 43

                             Observations of a 43 year-old Super Bowl watcher. Then and Now.

Ouch.  I'm too old for this.

Then: About 20 people (mostly dudes) drinking lots of beer, and having some chips.

Now: About 10 Moms and Dads eating lots of food, and barely having room to choke down a beer.

Then: Floor in front of TV is full of coolers.

Now: Floor in front of TV is full of kids spread out on pillows and blankets.

Then: Spent a week's pay on pre-game poker games, squares pools, and bets with some guy's uncle's friend who knows a guy (whom you never meet.)

Now: Spent $10 on a square pool and showing your kids the glamour of losing your money in a completely random system.

Then: The halftime show was Bud Bowl, one of the biggest phenomenons of 1987.

Now: The halftime show was Madonna, one of the biggest phenomenons of 1987.

Then: You don't want to be around some of your friends when they've had too much to drink (Beer)

Now: You don't want to be around some of your kids when they've had too much to drink (Soda)

Then: When the game ends you think "I'll stick around for a couple after the game. It's early."

Now: When the game ends you think: "If I leave right this minute, I can get exactly 6 hours of sleep. I'll be slow tomorrow, but I'm nuts like that."

Then: I love commercials with babes.

Now: I love commercials with monkeys.

Then: Great food, great beer, great friends, great time, great memories.

Now: Great food, great beer, great friends, great time, great memories.