for the love of the game

i rode in the car today with a couple of my closest friends to cleveland for a weekend full of football. the day before saw the biggest snowfall of the winter. my work was canceled, my car was covered. we listened to a medley of sad songs that i choose using the glaring, orange ipod. the sun was shining on the interstate that split the stacks of snow like a child dividing his or her valentines. we always want people to miss us when we're not around. i was thinking about the football game we were going to play the next day before the super bowl. i felt nervous. i was thinking about how many trees we were passing; watching over the winter road like aged members of the green beret. i was thinking about how i still felt lonely, even living with ten of my good friends, but how ultimately i was fine.we were all comfortable in that old station wagaon; the amenity of the engine clunking around with our toes tapping along. i could speak without judgement and believe without lying. i could have love without lust. but when the engine shut off and the music stopped i realzed that i would be the only one in the car that would still be living at the monster house the next year. everyone else was moving out. things would be differnet. and i wondered how many valentines i'd be getting this year, and how many of them i'd keep.