Tonight We're Gonna Party Like it's 12-12-12 12:12

Welcome to your ultimate day, dear #12s. December 12, 2012 is all about YOU.

It seems so fitting that the final triple-digit-date-day this millenium is dominated by 12s, the hardiest, most devoted, and smartest of any NFL fan. {Yes, I said we were smarter than you, Rams fans. Here's proof.}

I'm going to share a little story with you all and I don't even know if there is a point before I begin, but it is fairly poignant. I hope.

Traditionally, I celebrate 12-12 by doing some kind of volunteer service in honor of my Grandma Jane, who passed away in 2000. She would have loved that last Seahawks game, even though she wasn't toooo happy the time I told her, "I do go to church on Sundays, it's the church of the NFL". You all would have loved her, because she was smart and hardy and devoted, like you, #12.

Anyway, knowing that this year was going to be 12-12-12, I figured I should do something BIG. In January I set a pie-in-the-sky goal of going to Africa for a 'voluntourism' trip and also to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and put a 12th Man Flag up there. {Notice I did not say "summit" Mt Kilimanjaro - just 'climb'?}. Here's where it gets weird...

IMAGINE my amazement when I showed up to our first home game at Seahawks Stadium only to find Mt. Kilimanjaro looming large over the North End Zone late this past summer.

WTF.

Tell me the chances of the people who run tourism advertising for Tanzania selecting Seattle as their target market for an enormous, season-long campaign? Tell me more about how amazing of a year we could have with a rookie QB. And how "TANZANIA!" would become a battlecry on Twitter.



Delegation from the Ministry of National Resources & Tourism, July 2012

It became really crystal clear to me that my 12-12-12 couldn't be spent in Africa, because it was important to be HERE, in Seattle, in December. Looking at the calendar, how do you fit in a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Africa between the Cardinals and 49ers games? You don't. And YES, it sure is cheaper to stay home, even if Seahawks ticket prices are cray.

I will get to Africa one day. I will take a 12th Man Flag to Mt. Kilimanjaro via TANZANIA. I will continue to volunteer in our community and wherever I am able. And I will celebrate 12-12-12 Day with my family and fellow #12s, because that's how I roll.

Go Seahawks.