AWESOME!

The Super Bowl is over but we made the most of it in the last 24 hours, starting with a visit to Super Bowl City, right in our own backyard.  The only time we could go was Saturday night, the day before the big game. We risked sharing the moment with 200 thousand of our BFFs but it was a chance of a lifetime and it was FREE.

Part of the FREE was seeing Alicia Keyes. Hubby kept saying, “Alicia Keyes is giving a FREE concert.” I kind of laugh because he doesn’t really go for pop stars and I have Alicia Keyes on my itunes playlist. That’s free and he’s free to listen to it anytime he wants, but it’s not the same as trying to see her live. So we went.

We were the first ones on the BART train platform, waiting for the next train, nobody else in sight. Except a 49er-clad couple that followed us up and hung out right behind us, smooching away. Really? All this space and you choose to have intimate moments 10 feet from us?

When our train arrives, there are a few seats open but only one with room enough for two, right next to some scary looking teens, sagging jeans for starters. I decide to keep an open mind and sit next to them, along with my youngest son. The seats are perpendicular to each other as they are designed for handicapped, elderly or pregnant ladies. I can see everything they do and they can see everything I do.

We are going along just fine, listening to f-bomb after f-bomb coming out of three teenage girls wearing lululemon exercise pants, the most unlikely combination. Since when do lululemon girls swear? I think that’s an eye-opener until the scary teen closest to me starts tearing apart a cherry cigar and dumping the tobacco into an empty chip bag or the floor or something. Then he pulls out a plastic bag of weed and starts sprinkling it into the cigar paper and rolling it. His friend pulls out a small cough syrup bottle and takes a couple of swigs, smiling at his friends a few seats away.

Wow. I can’t believe my eyes. They got even bigger when the pot kid starts lighting up. I could not contain myself.

“Really?!? Fine if you want to roll your joint, but REALLY!?!”

“I’ve done it before,” he says sheepishly, half looking at me.

“It doesn’t make it right.” I reply back. He put it out. Nobody else on the train seems to notice or have a care. I’m shocked I’m the only one to say anything, and the kid listened to me! Maybe it’s my Mom powers.

It was the longest, most uncomfortable ride. I kept thinking, what would my former San Francisco cop friend do? She would not be afraid of getting tough with this guy. Or what about a teacher? A teacher is pretty brave at standing down teenagers. I kept watching him and he kept watching me. In the meantime, the cough syrup guy is falling asleep. Why is this fun for them?

Eventually the pot kid moves to a seat where it’s harder for me to see him and he lights up again. I look at him and he looks at me. I can’t believe this mini-war I’m in with a kid testing the system for thrills. I know he’s not a bad kid or he wouldn’t hide from me. Luckily our stop came up and I could get the heck out of there.

We walked along Market Street, taking note of the temporary Super Bowl posts lining the street, guiding us towards Super Bowl City. Excitement and pot fill the air, EVERYWHERE. Buildings are lit up with Super Bowl 50 logos, reminding me of Times Square in New York City. As we get closer, the crowds start growing and we can barely get through. It seems thousands and thousands all want to see Alicia Keyes for free.

We pass a GIANT man, tall and wide, probably a former football player or he should have been. He wore serious Denver Bronco Bling, but cool. Something about being a XXXL made him ominous in his blue letterman jacket with white sleeves and a Denver Bronco logo across his chest. White and blue beaded necklaces and matching beanie really pulled together the look. He was a classy for a passionate football fan. I really liked his style.

I was so excited! My people! I’m from Denver and I have not given up on my Broncos. I didn’t dress for any team for Super Bowl City as I didn’t want to provoke any fights. Sports fans can get nasty. But his guy, I looked straight at him and gave him the thumbs ups, “Go Broncos!”

Man, if looks could kill, I’d be dead now. He stared at me like WTF are you doing talking to me?!? I guess a selfie with him was out of the question. I loved his outfit though.

Like Times Square. Alicia Keyes would look good there too.

We finally pushed through enough to get a peek at the big screen showing Alicia Keyes. They really needed to beam it up on a building like the Super Bowl 50 logos. We could barely see her from five football fields away in a sea of people. So, we split.

We knew we might only be in Super Bowl City for 20 minutes, but we had to see it. Check out a cross-section of humanity as my husband said. Mix it up. Wow. Forget Alicia Keyes, the people watching was entertainment enough for me. I’m happy I lived to tell about it.

AND THE BRONCOS WON!!!!!!!  A very happy ending!