Monday,  Jan. 25, 2010 (the day after The Big Game), 12:54 p.m., C.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Who dat?  Who dat?  Who dat goin' to the Super Bowl?  The New Orleans Saints, dat's who! 

Woo-Hoooooo!!!!

Louisiana Sandusky here.  A very happy Louisiana Sandusky, I might add.  Am $500 bucks richer, thanks to the bet at the hospital.  Most of the people were saying the Saints didn't have a chance; they were going to lose to the Minnesota Vikings.  Well, looky here.  The Saints won; the Vikings lost!  So now the Saints are going to the Super Bowl, and I am $500 richer!  *Hee*

My poor husband didn't go to work today.  He can't talk above a whisper.  He yelled too much watching the game; I thought for sure he was going to have a heart attack because his face got beet red.  And my daddy, all he could do was sit in his chair and cry with joy.  He has been a New Orleans Saints fan ever since the team was formed, and this was a dream come true for him -- and for all of us who love the men in black-and-gold!

The kids had a friendly rival going on as well:  while most rooted for the "home team", several (Johnathon, Porter, Kecia, Sergei, LaGloria, Richard, Geraldo, and Roberto) were rootin' for the opposing team.  They even wore their Vikings uniforms, hoping that would give "their heroes" an added edge. 

Whoops.  It didn't work.  The Saints came up on top, in overtime.  It was one of the best games I have ever witnessed; it was a nail-biter to the very end!  When the clock ran out in overtime, the stadium in New Orleans (and our stadium here in our family room here in Nashville, Tennessee) went berserk.  I am sure the neighbors could hear us yelling and carrying on, even with the doors and windows being closed!  We just about blew the roof off of Casa Sandusky!

I am sure Bill is sitting in the livingroom, nursing his poor, raw throat.  LOL

I can only imagine what it must be like in New Orleans, Louisiana (or all over Louisiana, for that matter).  Louisiana is a party place anyway; there is probably plenty of celebrations or flowing of alcohol going on.  I bet New Orleans is still in a party mood; it's been far too long since she had anything worth celebrating about.  This was a Cinderella Year for them, a dream come true .  People often wondered if they'd have anything to smile about ever again, ever since Katrina nearly wiped New Orleans off the face of the map over four years ago.  Now they do:  the New Orleans Saints, the home town heroes, the home team, are going to the Super Bowl!!

I bet Mardi Gras will extra special this year, thanks to the Saints' win over the Vikings!  There will probably be plenty of New Orleans Saints-themed floats or celebrations!

When I get off of work later this afternoon, I'm going to get my family a cake and we're going to have us a New Orleans Saints celebratory party!  Woo-hoooo!!

As they say in Louisiana, "Laissez Les Temps Rouler"!  And as we say here, "We ain't seen nothin' yet" because this family is about to get crazy-wild with joy over the Saints!!  It's been far too long in coming!

AAAIIEEEE!!!!!

~Love, your friend in Tennesssee, Louisiana.  :D

GEAUX, Saints!!!!!