Fantasy Land

I don't get it. OK, so maybe on some level I do get it. I wrote about it once before, way back in August of 2008. (You can refresh your memory here if you so desire.) It is also the reason Henna & I got the heck out of Dodge (Nashville) and left The Kid behind. There was absolutely no way I was staying. Not even for the tease of seeing my grandchildren for a few minutes. What is it you ask? What is it that could possibly drive me out of town when my babies are on the way? It is Fantasy Football and the annual KFL draft party.

It started almost ten years ago. The brain child of my elder child. A fantasy football league that would blend the college friends of both of my boys, a Yankee cousin and one old man. What began as a 2-hour computer generated draft has evolved into a weekend event. One that is not to be missed. For any reason. Ever. (Unless your wife forces you to spend a month in Maine. Then it is acceptable as long as there is a house of refreshment close by that has internet and will allow you to sit for hours and draft your team.) There is no birthday important enough, no anniversary special enough to keep the men folk at home. The sanctity of this weekend is rivaled only by Super Bowl Sunday. It is that important.

And just like the Super Bowl a little two hour sport has become an "event." There is now the pre-draft party golf outing which takes place on Friday afternoon. Participants start rolling into town on Thursday. This year one man actually dedicated an entire week's vacation to the event. I certainly hope there was major suck-up involved prior to leaving his wife and child for the week. That should be worth at least a trip to a jewelry store, or in my case a very large order from B&H Photo.

But things have changed over the years. They don't like to admit it but they are growing old(er). There are still hot dogs and plenty of beer to go around. But now the guys are encouraged to bring "a dish" to share. Kind of like a church supper, recipes are compared and shared. And the morning after sleeping til noon of their youth...gone. Vanished. Replaced by jarring alarm clocks and crying babies, sounds of adulthood not easily banished in one long weekend with the guys.

Yes indeed, the KFL draft is an event. Much like the migratory call of geese to head south for the winter, the "boys" follow some unknown male homing instinct that leads them to Nashville the third weekend in August....each and every year. They relive their carefree college days. Play a little golf. Eat a little food. Drink a little brew. Make believe they are big time NFL team owners selecting the best of the best to lead their team on to the Super Bowl.

I'd say Disney has no corner on Fantasy Land. What say you?