This week was a particularly tough one to be a Target-loving Green Bay Packers fan.
Yes. Target came to Canada. Target is leaving Canada. Like Keyser Soze, basically.
There were a lot of complaints about Target in Canada. People said there stock issues. Personally I never experienced this, perhaps the Target that was five minutes from my house was just a particularly well-stocked one. Or maybe they things I went to Target for were just particularly plentiful. There were complaints that it wasn’t the same as Target in the US. It wasn’t, of course. But it certainly was my go-to place for so many things. Clothing for my kids, tank tops for me, tights, baby gifts, school supplies, makeup, coffee, COCOA PEBBLES, dog food, puzzles, candles, sports bras, mugs, bedding, furniture, photography props, kitchen stuff, socks, arts and crafts, games, popcorn, party supplies, cards, meds, accessories. I MEAN.
I will miss this sometimes-several-times-weekly ritual. And will clearly have to make more trips to Buffalo. (Who’s in??)
This is the red loss.
This year was the year that football clicked for Josh. He used to watch because he was born into a house where Football Sunday is ritual, in a house where we bleed green and gold. He watched, he called himself a fan. But this was the year he fell in love. And he actually became a fan. He learned everything there was to learn about every player on Green Bay, and rattles facts at every opportunity. He even did a paper on his favorite player — Jordy Nelson. He collected head-to-toe gear, and proudly wore it on game days (and not game days too).
Tonight we watched together. We watched a team come together and play like champions. And then we watched the same team let it slip through their fingers. There’s no blame, really. It wasn’t our day, it wasn’t our year. Next year. Next year! I can feel it in my bones.
I will miss this weekly ritual.
This is the green loss, of course.
Next thing you know I’ll be writing, performing, and singing a Les Miserables-esque song about it.
I apologize in advance.

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