Raider game with Caleb

Last night, Caleb and I went to the Raiders' game at the coliseum for monday night football. It was the first time for either of us to attend an NFL game, something for us to do before Caleb is off to college. The game was exciting, the crowd wildly enthusiastic, and the memories lasting.

We left around 3:30pm to the Richmond BART station. We shared a simple meal at Taco Bell, next to the BART station. I gave Caleb a letter from Pearl and I, basically sharing how proud we are of him, growing up from a baby to a responsible adult--that he had our blessings. Then, we took BART to the coliseum. The game went down to the wire. The Raiders took the lead with just over 2 minutes to go. San Diego would need a touchdown. Unfortunately, they marched down the field and scored with only a few seconds left. Getting out of the stadium took forever. We were slowly walking for close to an hour before we got to the BART station.

The fans were on their feet practically the whole time, that our legs got tired. Despite the ruckus atmosphere and Raider reputation, everyone was polite as I knew they would be. The ethnic diversity was evident.

During the national anthem, two jets flew overhead timed exactly to the sing. Their engines roared and I thought for a moment the terror they would invoke if they were enemy jets--with US air supremacy.

It was a great night that I will never forgot. I recall the day that Caleb, our first child, was born and I held him in my arms--my son. Now, he is moving away to college.