Not All Balls Are Round

I went to see my family this morning. Having lived in these parts for over 30 years, my family members are by now avid American football lovers. I don't really understand the game, nor do I have any inclination to learn it after close to 30 years! I only like to observe the joy my family seem to experience with the sport. They watch the game and I watch them, that's how this goes! There was a San Francisco 49'ers game on this morning. There was also a soccer game on in Tehran, which was being broadcast at the same time. Of course I like and understand soccer a lot better, except I only like to watch the National Team games. This morning's game was between Persepolis and Rah Ahan, and while I could understand why some people in my family were wearing red, it was hard to understand why the ones who usually wear blue were also in there making noises! In order not to miss any of the action, two television sets had been set up in my sister's living room and each showed a game which would intermittently receive attention from the small crowd! I sat there and watched for about two hours, as I filled my eyes, my head, and my heart with my family's presence and energy, keeping quiet mostly, letting their sounds and noises envelop me. I was reminded yet again that my family has belonged to two worlds for a long time and the simple exercise of watching a football game on a Sunday morning when you love and care about both worlds, could receive a slightly different approach, though noisy and boisterous just the same! I will share a secret with you (and please don't tell anyone), but if I absolutely had to choose, I would probably choose the Red Team. Something about them feels so down-to-earth and appealing to me, though their football has been atrocious recently! I hope you will still come to see me knowing that secret!