Last year about this time I took Jesse to his first hockey game. He had been given tickets for his bar mitzvah. Since we weren't fans of either team, we were set to simply enjoy the game. Jesse likes playing some sports, but has never expressed a particular interest in professional sports. It is his legacy to be an Islanders fan, and he wears it well, but he'd never really spoken about hockey.
We took the TTC down to the arena. It was a comfortable quiet ride, talking about non-sports-related topics. Once at the Air Canada Centre Jesse perked up. He wanted to take it all in. We had arrived about 15 minutes to spare, and we headed to Old Spadina, the kosher food stand to load up. We purchased plenty of food, and headed to our seats. I wanted to make sure we had enough to sustain us through the game. Jesse had been to a Raptors game (with amazing corporate seats) with Sean about a year earlier. Jesse ate his way through the game, and when the food Sean was willing to purchase ran out (no small amount), Jesse started to get fidgety, and was ready to leave. As soon as the game started Jesse was hooked. I think hockey is a much faster moving game than basketball, and obviously so did Jesse. He was on the edge of his seat, asking questions, cheering teams and players on. It was a well played game, and I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed watching Jesse thrill to the game as I do when attending. We'd run out of food (having eaten multiple hot dogs, fries, a pickle, and popcorn). I asked Jesse if he wanted to stay or go, but there was no leaving until the bitter end. To top it off the Leafs won in overtime, and we left absorbing the euphoria of the Leafs fans.
Fast forward to February 2011. Jerry Block, knowing I am a big Isles fan, and that I might need a night out while Sean was away, saved his 2 tickets to the Islanders/Leafs game. Even though Sean came home, he still gave us the tickets. This time I took Gavriel. What a different experience, although every bit as wonderful and amazing to watch. Gavi opted for dinner at home and junk food at the game. He wanted to eat dairy. Decked out in our Islander gear, we took the TTC to the Air Canada Centre, arriving right at game time. From the moment we got in the car to drive to the subway station, Gavi talked. He talked all the way down on the subway. He talked as we walked to the ACC. He talked as we entered, on the way to the concessions stand (where we collected our popcorn, drinks, and M&M's), and to our seats, pausing only for the anthems. As we sat down, Gavi looked around and asked, "Where do the Islanders' fans sit?" I told him there was no designated place, and we scoured the place for Islanders colors. We found quite a few, and some even just 2 rows in front of us. All through the game Gavi talked, who the players were, what he thought about the game, about the ads on the walls, about the checking, about the music, about the strategy. He refused to get loud when the announcer asked- that was for Leafs fans. Gavi's opinions, especially about the Leafs, the Islanders, and the game entertained all around us. It wasn't the greatest played game, although there was a fight and he got to see the Isles pull the goalie. We stayed to the last second. While we walked out, he took my hand and he talked. On the TTC he talked. In the car he talked, and when his head hit the pillow he slept. I've never seen anything like it. The game wasn't great. The Isles and the Leafs took half the game to wake up. Still it was an amazing night. To spend an evening with my children individually is a special experience. It's a chance to connect and create moments that will last when they no longer hold my hand.
