I'm posting only a few pictures from the highlights of the trip, but there is a slide show at the end with tons more pictures...again, mostly for me.
Well, it happened! Auburn won the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP in Glendale, Arizona and we were there to witness it! We had so much fun! My entire family went...my parents, brothers, sister-in-law (Rachel), Adam, and a family friend (Troy). I suppose I should start with addressing my fear of flying since that pretty much consumed the bulk of my previous post about the trip. It wasn't THAT BAD. The first flight, I was a little wacky and of course any time we hit turbulence. I don't really think my anxiety has improved, just my ability to hide it. Overall, the flights were fine (I'm alive, right?), but I still hate flying. (I sure do wish Adam and I could drive to Antigua. That's where we are going for our honeymoon.) I guess the one thing that made it better was the many Auburn fans we were flying with. All of our flights were literally filled Auburn people. When we landed our first flight in Vegas, they played the fight song over the loud speaker. Everyone got out their AU shakers and were singing. It truly was a moment I will never forget!
On Sunday, we got in the car and drove to Phoenix/Glendale which is only a few hours away. On the way, we stopped to see the Hoover Dam. It was pretty neat. The pictures don't really do it justice. After the drive and all the sight seeing, we were ready for bed!
GAME DAY! Monday!
Now I hate to say this, but after we won and the excitement died down I was ready to get back to Alabama. Little did I know that this was not going to happen for another 2 days. If you remember, this was during the blizzard. We were scheduled to fly home on Tuesday. Our first flight was from Phoenix to Denver then another from Denver to Atlanta. Well, we made it to to Denver, but then got stranded. The flight to Atlanta was cancelled and we couldn't get another until Wednesday. I could go on for days about the chaos that erupted in Denver, but I won't. I'll just leave it at...they lost my mom's luggage and we in no shape, form, or fashion had adequate or appropriate clothing for Denver's -4 degree weather.
Wednesday, we finally left Denver and made it home. It was the trip of a lifetime and I'm so glad we went. I'm so proud of the Tigers and to be a part of the AU family and tradition!!! I also have to mention this...Sadly, a few weeks after the big win, the AU community was saddened when the news broke about one of Auburn's longest standing traditions was put in danger when a crazy man (sorry, but he is) poisoned the oak trees at Toomer's Corner. If you don't know why this is important, let me tell you. The tradition stands that after any win by Auburn, the fans go to Toomer's Corner and roll the big oak trees with toilet paper. It has been said that many many years ago, the Toomer's Drug Store located on the opposite corner from the oak trees was the only place to have telecommunication and that when the Auburn football team went on the road to play away games and won, the people of the drug store would throw stuff in those SAME TREES to signify to the public that Auburn had won the game! This is a picture of Toomer's after the National Championship win. Isn't it "Plain" beautiful?

And if you have even read this far and have time to watch this video, PLEASE DO! It's worth watching. Promise! It is a time lapse video set to the fight song of Toomer's being rolled after the National Championship. It gives you an idea just how big of a deal rolling Toomer's really is to Auburn fans.
The poisoning of the trees was sad news to all Auburn fans everywhere, but the Auburn family will continue to live out it's traditions no matter what whether new trees are planted or the old trees survive. This is why I'm a proud Auburn Alum and why "I Believe in Auburn and Love it!" War Eagle!
Slideshow from Glendale Coming Soon!

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