Go Big...Gray?

This week, there’s only one shade of gray that I’m interested in.

Smoky Gray.

And it just so happens that the Georgia game isn’t the only special event this week—Ben’s birthday is today. So, like any good parent, I waited until the day before to finish up the shopping. (And by “finish”, I mean “do.”) He gets an A for effort, but when Brad came home last night with a smoky gray jersey for our birthday boy, my excitement plummeted to panic when I checked the tag and saw that it was a woman’s jersey, size small.

Since his big gift this year is a shopping trip to buy a new bike, that jersey was going to be the only gift he would have to open up this morning. Time to get creative.

*Disclaimer: this is not one of my prouder mommy-moments.

We put the jersey in his balloon-filled room last night and feigned surprise when he opened it this morning and found that the shirt didn’t fit. What we didn’t expect, though, was his deep level of disappointment when we told him we would have to return the jersey and he couldn’t wear it to school today. (Which would have been perfect because it would have matched the pretzel sticks I made for him to take to his class—they were dipped in orange chocolate and had silver sprinkles on them. That’s right—I have my good mommy-moments, too.)

Fear not, fair readers—The Professor swooped in to save the day. Between busy appointments and classes and busy business meetings, Brad made it over to the Student Store where a little birdie told him the youth-sized jerseys would be delivered today. (I can’t lie—the little birdie was the person working at the store yesterday afternoon, but that sounds a little less 'insider.') I’m not sure what all went down, but I got a text from Brad saying that I would be getting a call from someone later in the afternoon when the jerseys were ‘ready’ and I would need to go to the back door and meet Marlene.* Sounded legit.

Around 1:56, I got the call. I felt a little sketched out walking into the Student Store and trying to find someone that would lead me back to what I was sure would be the Black Market of UT apparel. I even had a getaway car driven by Timmy* just in case a quick exit was needed...or because parking on campus is a beast. Either way, palms were sweaty. Eyes were shifty. And then I saw Marlene.

In an orange and white button-down blouse, perfectly coifed salt-and-pepper hair and pearls to boot, looking like she had stepped out of a Ralph Lauren ad. Not a Polo ad that runs in Glamour—I mean like, classy, timeless Ralph Lauren ads that run in a real lady's magazine.

But I digress.

I said, “I’m looking for Marlene…my husband was here--” She put her hand up and said, “Right this way.” Wow, I thought, The Professor has come through…and I kinda feel like VIP right now.

She walked me back to the back of the store, quietly explaining that they weren’t allowed to hold any of the new smoky gray jerseys because of high demand, but when she heard the story about a disappointed birthday boy, and “saw the desperation” in Brad’s face, she just wanted to help us out. She handed me the jersey, but then stopped me suddenly, saying it looked like it ran a little small. While she was ordering some underclassman-stockboy to “find this woman a Youth size small!” I thought of Lucie…and timidly asked if there was one for a 3-year old girl who has an unhealthy obsession with t-shirts. Before I could even blink, she had put one in my hand. It all happened so fast. 

With 2 jerseys in my hands and a little bit of my faith in humanity restored, I went to the front of the store, paid and headed back outside to the getaway car where droves of students, alumni and fans alike were walking around campus…most wearing orange, but some wearing the newly coveted gray. I felt like I had scooped everyone—haha…you suckers will be standing in line for these things tomorrow! I texted Brad: “The hay is in the barn. I repeat—the hay is in the barn.”

So if you think that changing up a uniform for one game a year doesn’t matter, I think Marlene, one particular 7-year old and I would all disagree—the past 24 crazy hours prove that. Now, I know that these things have been available for a couple weeks now, but I’m willing to bet that Brad didn’t even mind running around like crazy trying to make sure Ben had this jersey today, the day before the 'football guys' take the field, pumped to be wearing the same color—he’s one proud papa because he has a little Vol buddy.

Even though we’ll be wearing gray this weekend, we will still be shouting “Go Big Orange!”...and I'm pretty sure that Ben's birthday will now be a little happier. 

*Names have been changed to protect the innocent.