I remember when the Seahawks launched the Franchise in 1976.. All the excitement.. I was 11.. I was living in Port Angeles Washington which is just across the Bay from Seattle.. Until the late 20’s I lived in the State of Washington and grew up a Seahawks fan.. At 18 is when it changed to rarely missing a game with friends.. Dave Kreig was the Quarterback at the time.. Life goes on and I met my Husband, who is a Raider fan.. He swore he would convert me.. at 28 We moved back to his hometown in Northern California and he was even more convinced he would sway my passion to the Oakland Raiders.. Not a chance..
It all became more than a sport when the Seahawks made it to the Superbowl Feb. 5, 2006.. Of course I was planning a Superbowl party and the morning was very busy.. Now for anyone to understand the magnitude of what I will be explaining next I need to first tell you, I had never met personally my birth father.. I knew who he was and for 10 years (yes, I will live with this regret my whole life, that is, that it was never made a priority to get together personally.. We both kept saying next year.. never thinking that next year would never come) but we talked on the phone and shared emails pretty regularly.. The morning of Superbowl XL my dad called to say he was rooting for my team.. not a big football fan himself but he knew how much I loved my Seahawks and he called to wish me well. To say he loved me and that he was Routing for my Hawks.. I was busy and we talked but I told him I had a few more things to do to get ready for guests and we said goodbye.. We got to Exchange “I love You’s” that one last time. My dad went for a walk with his dogs just after the call and when he didn’t return they went looking for him and found him on the sidewalk.. He had a massive heart attack.. He had passed away.. The phone rang just as guests were arriving and I looked at the caller id and remember thinking as I answered it ” you know I am busy ” but it wasn’t him.. it was my Aunt to tell me what had happened and that he was gone. I was standing in the kitchen and I hit the floor.. He was gone..
My husband took over from there and as people arrived he explained what happened as I stayed in my room the remainder of the day.. I didn’t even watch the game.. In fact in an attempt to not go through the pain I guess I stopped watching them play all together. It was a reminder of what was lost.. the regret for putting off something so important that I can never get back.. it was just easier not to watch.
A few years ago, something finally hit me.. Rather then looking at the glass half empty, I needed to be thankful for what I did have and that the Seahawks gave that to me.. That one last phone call with my DAD.. You see that phone call wouldn’t have happened with out that Super Bowl appearance that day.. and Do I believe that God played a part in that phone call.. absolutely..
For all the people out their, Niner fans, Bronco Fans, Sherman haters.. whoever you are that like to harass and put down people with a passion.. Look deeper.. you might just see that for some it is more than just a game.. it is more than who is going to be the winner. Getting their, both teams are winners.. and just because they are their, what ever teams they are..lives change and hopefully they change for the better.. Glass half full.. never half empty..
Go Hawks.. I will forever be thankful for what this team gave me that one Superbowl Sunday.. 8 years ago.. RIP James Dale Agan 7/12/43 ~ 2/5/2006
A PROSPERED LIFE with Kathy Rodriguez 