In the Parillo household the beginning of the school year brought along the combo-platter of apprehension and excitement. Where would your friends be? Who moved away? Who would be in class? How the heck do you find your classroom? Wow, everything looks so different.
Going to Jets opening night at the New Meadowlands Stadium was much the same.
After covering last season Mark, Ben, and myself definitely think of Peter, Mo, and the father-son of Jimmy & Jim as our classmates on the Jets adventure of last year, or more accurately, they gave us a glimpse into the world of tailgating and their years and years of experience.
Which basically means we got to hang out with the older cooler kids.
As the season approached Peter and I emailed a few times. Basic stuff: where you sitting, who is coming back. The answers:Lot B, not really sure yet.
You go where?
It was a nice first day of school. Since Mark is now upstate and would be coming down with his father Ben and I arrived at the stadium - with a parking pass donated by my buddies Chris and Cory - at 2:15 - or exactly 15 minutes after the lot opened. Much like when a bus route gets changed from the year before parking proved to be a hiccup - especially when we reached the lot.
As I handed over the ticket I asked, "Where is Lot B?"
The Parking Lot woman told me there were only numbered lots and no lots with letters.
Thankfully I had a map and was able to point out that there is indeed a Lot B.
"Oh, I guess there is," she said.
"How do I get there?"
"Just go down this road and take a right," she said while pointing at the map.
Fifteen minutes later, several illegal turns, and being bounced back and forth between even more security people I got the low down. It turns out Lot B was nowhere near our current position and the only way to get to it would be to LEAVE the parking area and re-enter. Which is not possible given our parking pass had already been ripped.
Right.
Parking lot L it is. First day jitters by the new parking people. Could happen to any new people with a new route.
The Trek to Lot B & HamstersParking Lot B is almost exactly halfway away from where we parked. No big deal since it was a very warm, wonderfully sunny day and it would allow us to get some shots of the New Meadowlands.
Lots of flags, signage, beer, and fires a-blazing. Though everything was slightly off – probably due to the fact that the stadium is in a different place than the old stadium. It’s like walking around your school yard and someone built a giant add on.
And then demolished the original structure.
Though some brilliant mind put fences up around the new structure. Lots of them. Beautiful cyclone fences made the place into hamster tubes. For Jets fans whom eventually get trapped in one of these cyclone behemoths I give you
http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Your-Hamster-Out-of-a-Tube.
Lot B also included a trip across two porticuses (porticli?)- I call them porticus even though they are really enclosed staircases attached by bridges that hang over the parking lot. It gives you the feeling that barbarians are going to storm the area.
Which will happen after a close loss when angry fans are denied the ability to cross the street from getting from the stadium to Lot B - I enjoyed the threat of a ticket for jay walking. Those cyclone fences are NOT very secure. Also, if you want a contact high you can stand in one of the porticus as people are already using it as a hidden get stoned area that rivaled anything I ever ran across in school.
The Gang is Here & It Feels…DifferentOver the years Peter and the crew had become friendly with the people in the surrounding area. Between PSLs, parking lots, and logistics there was NO WAY they could get the neighbors to the new neighborhood. Which leaves you with a whole set of neighbors.
The little city within the city, which effectively screws up the school analogy. Such is life.
A friendly face greeted us in the new city in the form of Mo. Turns out he had to charm his way through security to let him get to his friends. He is now a proud grandfather and maybe he'll just show pictures of the grandkids to get through- at least that is what I'd do.
Yes, the kids are already wearing Jets onsies in case anyone wants to know.
We caught up with Peter. His perpetual state of optimistic pessimism wrapped up the Jets and life by pointing out the new setup was on grass though the big question would be what happens when it rains.
Jimmy, leaning back in his chair, relating stories about checking out his new seats at the top of the stadium, becoming nervous about falling down the steps, and ultimately buying different seats at a result.
And Jim, ever present sunglasses on as he cooked up fried ravioli, and more importantly, letting me in on the recipe.
After catching up, tasting some of the food (as usual), and questions about the Jets chances (assorted) Ben and I went off to find out the new kids to neighbor—err, school.
The New Neighbors
Jets fans are a friendly bunch - especially when you have a video camera. Ben discovered this first hand as a Ronnie from the Jersey Shore clone ran toward the camera and grabbed Ben.
"Please don't hurt the camera!" I yelled as Ben was picked up and tossed onto the hood of the truck. This actually seemed completely reasonable at the time and major credit to Ben for continuing to shoot and not drop the camera.
Ronnie-clone and his friends were outstanding people though. A much younger crew who had experienced the same issues as Peter and his crew – finding friends, getting in, PSL issues. When I asked why do Iit? Ronnie-clone gave me a friendly smile and said, "It's a nice day and it's Jets football. You just feel the love, man!"
The Ending of the DayI won’t get into the aftermath of visiting others I know in the lot. Or the massive rain and lighting storm. Just the final thought: New school, same as the old school, except everyone looks a little different, and all of them have the same school spirit.
Even if they have to go through hamster tubes to hang out with friends.
Wayne
www.twitter.com/wparillowww.thejetscurse.com
