36 Hours To Go
Friday 01st February 2008
at 03:58pm
That’s it, so far as packing goes at least. We have moved out of our apartment, away from the stadium and over to our friends home for the last 2 days of this amazing journey. In 36 hours from now we’ll have said goodbye to Green Bay and be on our way to Minneapolis, the first of many stops on our 5 day excursion back home.
I wish had a second to step back and take in the feelings that I know I should be having this week. It’s another massive week in our lives as everything changes so suddenly again. This week; the freezing cold of Green Bay Wisconsin, the living, albeit tail end of a dream, the fact that I am only a few blocks from Lambeau Field. Next week; the suffocating heat of Sydney, trying to sort our lives out, 10,000 miles away from the life we are leaving behind. I want the emotion now, not in 2 weeks when it’s too late to do anything about it.....
I took a drive over the Fox River this evening, from UWGB toward Green Bay. In doing so I noticed a marina on the edge of the water. It looked like it’d hold maybe 50 or 60 boats? With the river turned to ice though, there wasn’t a single boat to be seen. That got me wondering, where do all the boats go in winter? I’m sure they go to the home of their owners but what a hassle it’d be having to cart it back and forth each summer. With that i started to wonder, what if you forgot to move your boat and it stayed there all winter? Apart from being really really cold when did remember to get back to it, would the ice have damaged it in anyway? My mind, once it picks up on something just goes mental sometimes.
From there, thinking quite humourosly to myself, i started to wonder if like birds, they just drove themselves south for the winter? That reminded me of seeing birds here two days ago, flying around like it’s the middle of spring. Don’t birds get cold? Are they immune to frostbite? So many questions, so few answers. It’s amazing what you notice when you have nothing else to do but drive and think about the little things in life.
On a less information hungry note, I finally got my first taste of the “take a penny” phonenomenon. For months i’ve been giving pennies but i’ve never had the need to take any. For those that don’t know, almost every store you go to around here has a little dish that you donate your pennies to. The idea is that when you need a penny one day, there will be one there without you having to break a $20 to keep the shop assistant happy. Anyway, as i was saying, today i actually got to take a penny and i was really happy about it. It felt like somehwat of a second coming. I’d arrived, I’d been to Lambeau Field, I’d tried a Brat and I’d eaten at Culvers. I can now add “taking a penny from the take a penny bowl” to that list. You might not be excited but i was.
So that’s that. It’s after midnight, i’m bushed and you’re not going to beleive it, we’re flat out again tomorrow. Somebody get us home quick, we need a vacation!
I’m hoping to spend some time, if i can find any, documenting on video, the surrounding streets of lambeau Field. I think that’d be a neat finish to the whole experience. I may not get to drive the streets of Green Bay this time next week but thanks to our friend the camera, we can take them with us wherever we go.
I’ll post later on about our plans for the coming few days.
Posted byComments
Fri 01st Feb 08
at 04:43pm
You & your family will be in our Prayers over the upcoming days. Have a safe trip home. Jennifer
Fri 01st Feb 08
at 11:34pm
I have been following your story since almost the begining; I did have to do a bit of catching up. You are a remarkable person and Kelly is amazing to go along with you.
It IS possible to just pick up and move and somewhat start over. After being born and raised in WI for 38 years, my husband, daughter and I picked up and moved to Florida in June 2007. We had a house but no jobs. Everything has turned out beautifully for us as it did for you, Kelly and the kids. We adapt, that is what makes human beings incredible. Following a dream is a remarkable experience that we can try to explain to people but until they have actually given it a try there is no way to describe the excitement, exhilaration and adrenaline that keep you moving forward when it would be so easy to quit and go back where we started from.
Good luck to you and your family as your dream takes you back to Sydney to share your amazing story. I can’t wait for your book to come out. If we all followed a dream just once the world would be a much happier place.
God Bless each of you and may you have a wonderful adventure exploring other parts of our beautiful country before you return home. GO PACK GO!
Sat 02nd Feb 08
at 12:09am
I’m saddened already by the fact that you are leaving. I have read every entry and loved then all. You and your family will be missed. Take Care!
Sat 02nd Feb 08
at 03:17am
I just wanted you to know,
You Will Be Missed!!!!!!
We only hope you get to come back and visit again.
You all have a safe trip back home and keep us posted.
Take Care for now!
Robin and Cableman
Sat 02nd Feb 08
at 04:58am
I hope you all have a safe trip home. Though its sad for everybody to see you leave i know you can’t wait to see your family and friends back home. Im sure you will find something that you’ll be very successful at and be back on your feet soon. Maybe a few years down the road you’ll come back and see another game at Lambeau. Im looking forward to the book and checking up on your progress on the site from time to time. Take Care
Sat 02nd Feb 08
at 08:56am
Don’t leave please...thanks again for taking us on this journey.
Sat 02nd Feb 08
at 09:17am
Just wondering if you are going to do it all again next year. What you did this season is really amazing
Sat 02nd Feb 08
at 10:21am
Hey Wayne and family! Looking forward to catching up with you here in Sydney! Now I’ll finally having someone I can talk to about the NFL draft! Have a safe flight back to OZ , its actually been a really cool summer here.
Sat 02nd Feb 08
at 12:34pm
Hey Wayne,
Boy, you brought us through one hell of a season! I’ve been keeping up with all the video and it seemed throughout this season you and your family were part of the inspiration for the Pack’s success. I’m impressed by all you’ve done (and especially impressed with Kelly and kids for going along with your craziness). Truly a great story in a great year for the Pack! They will be back and we’re not going anywhere. Other teams will come and go and be sold and move to other places. This team will always be here...And for that reason you and yours will always have a home and be a part of the Packer family. I’m Looking forward to the book.
Good luck! Going to the Superbowl 2009!
Todd
Sat 02nd Feb 08
at 10:29pm
May your trip home be safe, and your memories in Green Bay be treasured.
YA HEH! GREEN BAY!!!
God Bless,
Peggy Packer
Sun 03rd Feb 08
at 12:26am
Wayne, Kelly, Ben, and Luc - For those of us that have lived in the shadow of Lambeau Field all of our lives, your family and your journey inspired us and gave us a much greater appreciation of our team and what we have here in Green Bay. It has been a pleasure getting to know you. I wish you all the very best...you will be in my thoughts and prayers. I look forward to getting together when you return!
Sun 03rd Feb 08
at 01:00am
It’s strange. I have not met you personally, but I feel as if we are friends. Reading and watching your story unfold. So, with the feelings of saying goodbye to a friend. Goodbye. May the peace of The Lord be with you and guide you. May your family be blessed, and remain whole. I hope if I ever get a chance to visit OZ (hopefully to purchase a 94 Capri Clubsprint) I hope to see alot of Green & Gold, because if they (Aussies) aren’t Packers fans now, after reading of your experience, they will be.
Stephanie and Karl
Sun 03rd Feb 08
at 02:46am
I can’t believe you guys are already leaving! The time has just flown by and Karl and I are so sad we weren’t able to see you again.
Safe travels to all of you, and when you get home send some warmth our way. We’re sick of this long GB winter.
Sun 03rd Feb 08
at 07:58am
Wayne, in reference to one of the marinas you saw in Green Bay. All boats not made of steel must come out each winter. Ice expands as it freezes and would most certainly punch through a fiberglass or wooden boat like butter.
If you noticed there are a ship or two wintering in the Fox River south of the 172 bridge. The worst that will come to their steel hulls is a little scratched paint and a little rust.
Wed 13th Feb 08
at 02:32am
Wayne Just catching up on your web site Have been following it for some time What an amazing season you have had and all the things you have experienced that we take for granted. As far as the boats go It’s big business Not only do you have to store them somewhere You also need to winterize the motor. Not sure what all they do being female but I know it costs us a couple hundred dollars. Stay warm now that your back home.