I'm not sure where to start. I apologize if you hate photos, because this is another photo overload...but I just can't condense it any better.
I guess I'll give a brief history. I have been a Seahawks fan for awhile. I never understood football when I was young, but I started getting into it in high school. When I joined cheer I had to learn it because...well...that's how you know what cheers to start. We were extra lucky though. You know how cheerleaders have like 5 matching outfits for camp, a warm weather and cold weather football outfit, a basketball/wrestling outfit, 2 pairs of shoes, and a set of warm ups and poms? Well, that stuff ain't cheap (they're custom tailored), and the school never pays for "clubs" (though they cut more people than any other sport and you have to abide by athletics rules...ugh). Anywho, we had a hook-up at the Seahakws through one of the girls' dad. We didn't have to do any of those carwashes or pay out of pocket, we were able to work at the Seahawks games in those booths selling merchandise, and they would pay your account at the school off. We could watch the games on breaks, and I really got interested in the team so watched all the away games. Plus, being a part of the atmosphere really gets you into them.
Well, I did that for 2 years, but then graduated. Of course, that was the year they made the Super Bowl, and that was the year I lived in Las Vegas. My dorm floor had a fun party, but I was the only hawks fan. Not so exciting.
This year was different. I was able to be a part of everything. We had parties for the games, and the 12th man came out in full force EVERYWHERE. Buildings flew the flag, changed their lights to blue/green, skyscrapers coordinated lighted offices to make giant 12's, and everyone participated in "blue Friday" (the Friday before games, it is encouraged that every fan anywhere wear Seahawks gear or blue color, whichever is appropriate). It was A.W.E.S.O.M.E. It is so cool when everyone has a sense of community, and much preferred when it isn't because of a tragedy.
The game itself was...well...do I need to go into it? I have always loved the Broncos and Peyton Manning (separately, but now together) but nothing compared to the hawks. I kind of feel bad for them because it was such a blowout. Oh well. WE WON. 43-8
As soon as the game was over, we went outside. The neighborhoods around us were blowing off fireworks. My neighborhood had people doing the SEA-HAWKS chant, and we went out with our own fireworks and banging a pot. It was grand.
They announced the big parade and lucky us...it was on Wednesday! Our day off! Everyone and their mom seemed to be going, and they were encouraging public transportation to avoid traffic. We knew it would be bad so we got on the 5:30am Sounder train. About half the people on there were hawks fans. I guess we took the right train because soon after that, we heard they didn't even open the doors in the Puyallup station (there are still 5 stops after Puyallup and only 1-3 before depending on which train) they were so packed! People had to wait several trains! The only problem was, we got to the stadium at like 6:15...and it was 15 degrees. While the experience was awesome, I would never do that again. It was WAY.TOO.COLD. We got a good spot though, we found a curb about a foot and a half up so we could sit comfortably, and stand on it and see over anyone that would stand in front of us later. It was perfect :)
Made it on the train (flattering angle, eh?)
There's the Clink and an office bldg with a big 12
Haha, those kids took a picture too
12th man flag flying around
The area got packed soon after
After waiting forever, the parade finally showed up around 1:30. It was so fast, but really cool to see all the players up close. There was a rally afterwards at Century Link (overflow showing on the big screen at Safeco Field) but they were selling out immediately (free) and we felt it was better to see them up close than on a TV we could watch at home later anyway so we planned to leave right after.
Bus!
Marshawn Lynch (beast mode) throwing skittles off a Duck with the Sea Gals
The trophy!
Pete Carroll - this is all happening just feet away from us. I can't believe how close to everyone you could be and many of them were high-fiving and shaking hands!
Tight ends
I wish Russel Wilson wasn't wearing sunglasses...
There's Richard Sherman, my favorite player :D
The Boeing Seahawks plane ended the parade by flying over us (it says Go Hawks on the bottom and the rest is painted in colors with a 12)
We left right away and headed to the train. We knew there were tons of people going there and Sawyer had soccer at 4:30. We headed to the station and merged into the crowd which slowly moved toward the train. Well, we were already way in the crowd, almost into the door (no way to go backwards at that point) when I realized that there was a line that we had completely cut hundreds, probably thousands of people. Um, oops. The kids were getting so uncomfortable though so I didn't even feel bad. The first train (they added an extra route that day) filled up and we JUST BARELY made it into the second one- the one we really wanted to be on (they stopped it in front of us but let a few more people in last minute including us). It even left early. They packed us like sardines and we made it back just in time to drive through McDonalds, change Sawyer in the bathroom, and get him to soccer right on time. Phew!
It was an awesome experience. So cool to say we were a part of it and to support our team in their first ever Super Bowl win. The final estimates were that there were close to 1.5 million people there! I don't think I'd do it again though- not with kids anyway, and not when the high is 20 degrees!
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