Well, y’all, if there’s one thing my daddy loves almost as much as his family, it’s football. And when a man turns 69 years old, I figure he’s earned the right to spend his birthday doing exactly what makes him happy.

So that’s precisely what we did!

No fancy birthday party, no expensive getaway. Just family, football, good food, and a television that probably worked harder this weekend than it has all year.

And let me tell you, between the Wildcats, Trojans, Bulldogs, and Falcons, Daddy had plenty to celebrate, plenty to complain about, and more than enough opportunities to explain what the coaches were doing wrong.

Friday Night Lights, Mexican Food, and Birthday Wishes

We kicked off Daddy’s birthday weekend Friday evening with Mexican food from one of his favorite places, La Vaquerita. Around here, the birthday boy gets to choose supper, and Daddy wasn’t about to pass up that opportunity.

After supper, it was time for some Friday night football!

The Carrollton Trojans were playing Douglas County on television, and honey, did those boys put on a show!

Carrollton walked away with a 62–24 victory, keeping their undefeated season alive at 7–0. The Trojans really turned up the heat after halftime, holding Douglas County scoreless in the second half.

Now that’s how you start a birthday weekend!

Unfortunately, our Villa Rica Wildcats didn’t have quite the same luck.

The Wildcats fell to Allatoona, 39–19, and while that wasn’t the outcome we’d hoped for, anybody who grew up around here knows you don’t stop loving your hometown team just because they have a rough Friday night.

Daddy always says, “Anybody can cheer when they’re winning. A real fan sticks around when they’re losing.”

Of course, he’s also the first person to holler at the television when somebody misses a tackle.

I suppose that’s what you call passionate loyalty.

Saturday: Tailgating at Home and a Bulldog Victory!

Now, Saturday was the day we’d really been preparing for.

We brought the tailgate right into the house! Dad says, “A ‘True Southerner’ isn’t afraid of no hurricane.”

Our menu included Game Day Chili Dip, Hidden Valley Ranch Dip, Buggles, Chips, fresh veggies ( just right for dipping), and enough Chick-fil-A nuggets to make you wonder if we were expecting the entire Georgia offensive line for supper.

The only thing missing was the stadium parking lot.

And Zsa Zsa? Honey, that dog appointed herself head of tailgate security.

And, if I’m being honest, I even missed Daddy telling me I don’t know what I’m talking about.

She supervised every plate, inspected every trip to the kitchen, and positioned herself wherever she thought a chicken nugget might accidentally fall.

I’m fairly certain she believed the whole birthday celebration was in her honor.

But when those Georgia Bulldogs took the field against Alabama, even Zsa Zsa knew it was time to settle down.

And what a game!

The Dawgs went into Tuscaloosa and came home with a hard-fought 20–17 victory over the Crimson Tide.

Quarterback Gunner Stockton threw for 249 yards, while Dwight Phillips Jr. rushed for 120. Georgia’s defense made its presence known, too, and the Bulldogs improved to 6–0.

It wasn’t one of those games where you could relax with your feet up and enjoy your dip.

Oh, no!

This was the kind of football that has everybody sitting on the edge of the couch, questioning the officials, and promising the Lord you’ll behave if He’ll just let the Dawgs pull this one out.

When Peyton Woodring kicked that fourth-quarter field goal to put Georgia ahead, I thought Daddy might come right out of his chair!

And when that final whistle blew?

HOW ‘BOUT THEM DAWGS!

Now that’s what I call a birthday present!

Sunday: The Falcons Gave Daddy Something Else to Holler About

By Sunday evening, we’d already enjoyed two full days of football, eaten enough tailgate food to feed a small army, and celebrated another trip around the sun for Daddy.

But we weren’t finished yet.

The Atlanta Falcons were hosting the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football.

And for most of the evening, things were looking pretty good!

Atlanta’s defense gave us something to cheer about when Jessie Bates III returned a fumble for a touchdown. Michael Penix Jr. connected with Kyle Pitts for another score, and the Falcons carried a lead deep into the fourth quarter.

Then came the part that makes being a Falcons fan feel like a full-time emotional commitment.

With just 40 seconds left, Baltimore scored and converted for two points to tie the game at 23.

Overtime.

Lord, have mercy.

The Ravens scored again, and Atlanta couldn’t answer. The Falcons fell 30–23, leaving us staring at the television wondering how a game that looked so promising could end like that.

Penix also suffered a rib injury late in the game, which certainly didn’t help matters.

Daddy had a few things to say about that ending.

Actually, Daddy had a LOT of things to say.

And I suspect the neighbors heard most of them.

Zsa Zsa, being the sensible girl she is, had already gone to sleep.

Sometimes I think that dog knows more about surviving football season than the rest of us.

The Best Birthday Present Wasn’t on the Scoreboard

But here’s the thing I’ve been thinking about since the weekend ended.

We celebrated Daddy turning 69 with Mexican food, homemade tailgating, football from Friday through Sunday, and a whole lot of laughter.

Some of our teams won. Some lost. And one nearly gave us a collective nervous breakdown.

But none of those final scores were really what mattered.

It was watching Daddy enjoy the things he loves.

It was hearing him tell stories about football games from years ago, listening to his opinions about the coaches, and watching him celebrate a Bulldog victory like he’d personally helped draw up the winning plays.

It was being together.

Because the older I get, the more I realize something.

You can always watch another football game, but you can’t get another weekend back with the people you love.

So, happy 69th birthday, Daddy!

Thank you for teaching me to love football, stand by my teams, speak my mind, and appreciate the simple things in life.

Even if you still think you know more about football than I do.

And to everybody reading, don’t wait for a birthday to gather your family, fix some good food, and spend a little time together.

Those are the moments that become the stories we’ll tell years from now.

Until next Thursday—

Go Wildcats! Go Trojans! Go Dawgs! Rise Up!

And somebody please get Zsa Zsa away from the leftover nuggets!

— Charlie Parker “CP” Reeves

🐾 Zsa Zsa’s Sideline Tip

Football teams don’t wait until the fourth quarter to figure out their game plan, and neither should small-business owners!

With year-end approaching, now’s the time to tackle those receipts, reconcile those accounts, and get your books ready for the CPA.

If your paperwork has you fumbling more than a rookie quarterback, call Southern Grace Ledgers LLC. They’ll help you get back in the game before the final whistle!

And remember, sweetie pie, the only thing that belongs buried in the backyard is my bone, not your receipts!