I wasn't going to post again until we get to Hawaii, but, given today's dramatic action between the 49ers, Falcons and Caleb, I just had to

In today's coverage of the San Francisco 49ers squeaker 28-24 final playoff victory over Atlanta, almost given away at the end and sealed only in the final seconds of the game, The New York Times wrote this about my son, Caleb:

"(He) fumes and flails. He sighs and suffers. He bolts his feet to the ground as if he were wearing concrete shoes, then twists his upper body in unimaginable ways. The entire routine makes for an entertaining if somewhat painful sideshow to watch...

"He frowned, several times, when the 49ers fell behind by 17 points early. He combined a hangdog head shake with a sort of disappointed-teacher expression when kicker David Akers bounced a field-goal attempt off the left upright. And he grimaced, then threw a temper tantrum that would have made a toddler proud, when the officials ruled that Atlanta receiver Harry Douglas had, in fact, maintained control of a disputed catch late in the fourth quarter.

"After all of that, however — and after a last-second Atlanta pass came up short — (Caleb) allowed himself something close to a novelty: a smile."

Oh, wait. You caught me. The Times was not writing about Caleb but was actually describing the antics of San Francisco Coach Jim Harbaugh - but it could have been Caleb. Oh, yes, indeed.

Except I think Caleb was even a bit more animated, jumping up and down out of his chair, shouting, usually angrily, when the Niners did something dumb.

And they really did do dumb things, like when they barely managed to stop an Atlanta drive just short of a Falcon touchdown and then, with one-minute and four seconds left to go mismanaged the clock in a way that would have brought disgrace to a middle school team and got a delay of game penalty that threatened to turn the last moment advantage back to Atlanta.

Having no plans to blog until after Margie and I get to Hawaii Thursday night and thinking I would just watch the game and relax, I had taken no pictures of any of these antics, but as the game neared an unknown completion my poor son was on the verge of hyperventilating. Seriously. I am not joking. He was.

And then, after San Francisco won with just seconds left to go, Caleb jumped up, cheering with joy, girlfriend Monica jumped up, doing likewise, threw her arms around him and as Caleb trembled with relief, planted a big one right on his lips.

I suddenly realized that one of the greatest moments in sports history was unfolding right before my eyes and I was not even holding my camera. It was sitting one cushion over on the couch I shared with Margie. I grabbed it, hoping to record the action before it ended, but, damnit, the lens cap was on and It took me a few seconds to get it off, frame, focus and shoot and by then the kissing action was over.

Caleb was staring at the screen in relief and Mo was smiling at Caleb with a mix of relief, affection and disbelief.

Fortunately, they kissed again. It wasn't quite as dramatic as the first kiss, but, still, it was a kiss.

This is what Caleb wrote shortly afterward on his Facebook page:

"I've never felt so tired, so drained after a football game. SUPER BOWL BABY!!!!!!!!!!"

And what a historic Super Bowl it will be - the Harbaugh Super Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers, coached by Jim Harbaugh, vs the Baltimore Ravens, coached by his brother, John Harbaugh.

Caleb and Mo are staying here and may well watch the bowl right here, in this living room. Margie and I will have one more day to spend in Hawaii, so we will miss the action. I don't mean the action on the field. I'm sure the Super Bowl will be easily accessible in Hawaii.

I mean the action right here, in this house, after Jim Harbaugh's 49ers trot onto the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in New Orleans to battle it out with John Harbaugh's Ravens.

Comments

[Mom of grabdsons]

Love it! :)

[Adan & Lego & Michico]

love it~
And glad to know you are doing great.