I realized tonight that this week marks the one year anniversary of my hockey fandom. After the Sabres were eliminated from the ECF last spring, I underwent the strangest transformation. I wanted to continue watching hockey, even without an obvious rooting interest. When I found myself inexplicably drawn to the remaining games of the WCF, I knew that my attraction to hockey ran deeper than just my attraction to the Sabres. I spent the remaining ‘07 playoffs practically studying the sport, and suddenly, hockey was a major part of my life.
One year, and one blog later, here we are.
I’ve spent the entire season trumpeting my “newness”. “I’m just a new fan,” I’d squawk, as I said something purposefully ridiculous. “I don’t know what I’m talking about!” Now, a lot of the time I really don’t know what I’m talking about, but I’m ready to make an admission: I don’t say ridiculous things because I’m a new fan, I say ridiculous things because I’m…um…..ridiculous. I’ve learned a lot this season, and it’s time to fess up that I’m not quite as dumb as I’d have you believe. We are now entering the part of a hockey season I have carefully witnessed before. This will be my second Stanley Cup Finals, and my second off-season, and my second July 1st.
While I can’t really claim to be a new fan anymore, I’m certainly not a seasoned vet either. I’m something in between. I’m a hockey fan “tween”, if you will. If the first year of my fandom was the Brownies, I think I’ve now graduated to the full fledged Girl Scouts. I’m growing up, folks! Once, I was bright-eyed and innocent, and now I’m a moody, hockey-loving preteen. It’s time I packed away my brown vest, and stepped into my green jumper.
I’m not a baby anymore.
Being a Hockey Brownie was great. I got to spend a full season finger painting and splashing in the shallow end of the pool, but I’m ready for some real challenges. Hockey Girl Scouts are expected to learn a bunch of skills, and earn badges, and sell cookies and stuff. I’m ready. Now, please don’t expect this transition to be altogether graceful. Preteens are notoriously strong-willed and difficult to reason with, and I’m already displaying these unattractive characteristics in spades. Heh.
