Redskins Season Tickets...

I got a letter in the mail from the Redskins earlier this week. I've gotten them before. They are usually trying to sell me some commemorative plate from the Franklin Mint (because, you know, a 6-10 season is worth commemorating with a deluxe hand painted, gold-trimmed collector's plate "sure to increase in value"). Or, if my name hasn't been pimped out to some company and it's a genuine letter from the Redskins, it's trying to sell me "club" level seats that cost more than buying a Lexus. So, I usually just toss them out when I receive them.

But something about this letter struck me as being a bit different. So, I opened this one up.

"Dear Waitlist Member" the letter began... Could this be the letter, I thought to myself? The one I've been waiting on for nearly a decade? You see, the Redskins... despite a decade of giving me nothing but pure misery have a season ticket waitlist that is somewhat legendary. Before Daniel Snyder (aka "The Danny" -- the love him/hate him owner of the Redskins), the list supposedly had a 30 year wait or something ridiculous like that. So, I put my name on the list shortly before Kelly and I got married... nearly 10 years ago (and I've added it numerous times since then -- you know, just in case they didn't get me the first time). I figured that, by the time I actually got offered season tickets, I might actually be able to afford them -- and having season tickets to the Redskins has really been a lifelong dream of mine.

Well, "The Danny" has jacked up the stadium to seat nearly 93,000 people (and had some rough years)... so the wait on the "waitlist" is apparently right at about 10 years now. Still, a very long time.

Anyway, I got excited as I continued to read the letter... sure enough... the letter informed me that I was near the top of the list and to put a deposit down for the 2008 season. My initial reaction was that the letter's timing was kind of unforunate, because my time frame of "being able to afford it" required that I be 50 years old with an empty nest and enjoying the start of our "second honeymoon."

So, with a new baby on the way, an impressive Northern VA mortgage and other responsibilities, I just didn't think much of it... I just put the letter aside and didn't really think about it until the next morning.

Then, while I was at work, I started thinking about it again. And I realized that I just kind of dismissed it and had this knee jerk reaction that it wasn't feasible and affordable and hadn't really thought it through. I remembered back to the time when I put our name on the waiting list....

Kelly and I were just about to get married. I was working in an awful job as an account executive at a Radio Station. Kelly was still in school and had another year to go. I was making glorious money, at least $20,000 a year, and saving every last penny of it (literally) to afford our honeymoon. By the grace of God, I was able to save enough to pay for the honeymoon (paid the travel agent in 40 $100 bills -- that's another story for another day) and I was somehow able to afford to put a security deposit down AND first months rent on our first apartment... all while making my payment (12 months same as cash, baby!) on the engagement ring I had purchased from the only store dumb enough to give me credit to buy it. And, we basically made it -- debt-free I might add, on about zippy dollars. And it was good!

We didn't have much. No scratch that... we had nothing... tangible that is. No savings or investments, no impressive cars, no homeownership and certainly no extra money. But we did have each other. We had our dreams of starting our life together. And we rested firm in the fact that God was in control and not us.

The past decade has been good to us. God has provided more than we ever could have asked or imagined. In the last 10 years, God has entrusted us with 2 beautiful children and another one on the way. Vocationally, I have found a career that I greatly enjoy, thrive at and get paid well to do it. Within 3 years of putting my name of the "waitlist", I went from being a lowly Sales Executive of a classic rock radio station to -- unbelievably -- becoming the Vice President of a multi-million dollar company. And when it became apparent that we wanted to move up to the Northern Virginia, I was able to use those credentials to land a job with a wonderful company (and get paid better to do it). All the while, the bond between Kelly and I has grown deeper each and every day. I can honestly say, unequivocally, that I married my best friend and love her infinitely more now than I did the day that I said "I do"...

So, my point is that our first 10 years as a married couple has been good to us and, realistically...the tickets aren't out of reach... they are, indeed...gasp....AFFORDABLE!!!!

So, I thought about it all day... and basically decided that I wanted to do it... to check this particular "lifelong dream" off of my checklist (no, I don't actually have a real "lifelong dream" checklist...but, just work with me here). So, I go home, and tell Kelly "Hey, I think I want to do the Season tickets thing."

Now, I'm guessing that most wives would throw up objection after objection as to why that is a stupid idea. I'm sure most of the reasons would revolve around the money being better spent on items from Bed, Bath and Beyond or the Pottery Barn or something. But my wife, you see, is awesome.

Without hesitating, she said: "Yes, I want you to! It's been your lifelong dream to have Redskins season tickets..."

And that, my friends...is why my wife is awesome. Unselfish, fully trusting and just wanting to make me happy.

So, it is with great joy that I announce, to all 12 readers (I'm increasing my readership each and every day) of the Faircloth Five blog... that the Faircloth family will be Redskins season ticket holders... ahh... can't wait! "Kelly, You are awesome" Cards can be sent to: 42990 Mill Race Terrace, Leesburg, VA 20176.