On Sunday, the Bills and I celebrated our 20th anniversary. Yes, it was 1991 and I was just coming into my own as an NFL football fan. It was a pre-arranged relationship. My father never even asked me who I wanted to be with. This wasn't about love, it was about tradition. Since then we have had our ups and downs. The truth is, I have never strayed. Other teams walk by and I don't even glance because I know what I have; I have true love.
As sure as I am about this relationship, some friends and family are quite as sure. They tell me I'm being played, that the Bills don't love me like I love them. I try them, "you don't know them like I do." But they insist that the Bills are not being true to me. "Would someone that love you not take you to the playoff dance 10 years in a row??" says my brother.
It's true. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one working at this relationship. A couple years ago I put my foot down and the Bills brought in Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey to "mediate". I was skeptical, but my love is too strong so I went along with it. They told me it might get a little worse before it gets better and they're weren't kidding. But I remained faithful and continued to honor the commitment my father arrnaged all those years ago.
Kick-off weekend 2011 was the best I have felt about a Bills' opener since they dismantled the Pats back in 2003. That year, the Bills would go on to wreck the Jags in week 2 and quickly become the talk of the league. But, as I'm sure many recall, the Bills would go on to lose 7 of their next 9 games to finish the season 6-10. I was devestated. As much as I hurt, those close to me hurt even more as they watched me sink further into an abusive relationship.
So, after a pre-season where I watched the Bills go home with loses and flirt with another season of adultery, they come out in week 1 and blow out the Chiefs. Every phase of our relationship was golden! We laughed, we smiled, we sang our Shout! song together! It was like the honey-moon era of the early 90's all ove again! But, I've been hurt before. 2003, 2-0. 2008, 4-0. Both looked like they would finally pop the playoff question, but instead, all I got for Christmas were excuses.
So what do I do? A blow-out win AT ARROWHEAD? That's a side of the Bills I have never seen! I didn't think they could be so generous and caring. For the first time in many, many years, they recipricated my feelings. Is this the year they finally give me that little black box to open during the holidays? Are we ACTUALLY going to go down the aisle and erase 11 years of domestic quarrels? My heart says YES, but my brain says "don't trust them".
I have to Bill-eve. We've been together so long, I've taken all the abuse. I'm not going to drop them and then watch some harlet scoop them up just when they've cleaned up their act. No way. I'm sticking it out. My mom is getting old and she needs to see a wedding before she dies. If I quit now, she'll never have a chance to experience that dream. I will push on and pray matrimony.
If things don't work out, I have a feeling it's going to be because of that Tom Brady. I always catch him smiling at the Bills. He doesn't think I see him, but I do...
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