Branded

Did you know there are secret clubs out there that you don't actually know exist until you enter them...unknowly, of course? Let me write a little background first. I hold no real loyalty to anything. To clarify there are places that I prefer and things that I would rather do BUT I hold nothing against anyone who doesn't share the same views or preferences. All of that being said, I was inducted into a club on Christmas day when I opened my gifts from boyfriend. You see...he went to Ohio State...correction...THE Ohio State University. I had no idea what it was all about when I walked into his house for the first time. There was OSU paraphernalia everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE. Cups in the cabinet. Pictures on the wall. Blanket on his bed. Coasters in the living room. Blanket over his work chair. More shirts than he could wear in a month. I had never seen so much stuff dedicated to one place! I thought he was a bit weird about it but the longer we hung out the more I saw that it was an OSU thing. We were stopped by other THE Ohio State University alumni at church, when out dancing, in the grocery store, at the mall, when walking down the street, and for the love of God and all that is holy when we were at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. It blows my mind every time we get stopped. There is instant conversation. Some commonality. The sharing of a love. The love of THE Ohio State University.

It was pretty much a given that I would be getting OSU stuff for Christmas but I didn't realize that by wearing it I would be automatically inducted into THE Ohio State University's secret club. I was stopped while on the plane standing in line to use the bathroom by someone who had to tell me their favorite experience while in college. It was mind blowing! Here's another thing you should know...THE Ohio State University has a rival and by rival I mean it literally makes boyfriend (as well as the other members of his family and any other person who attended OSU who I have met) gag when he sees people wearing a University of Michigan shirt. It cracks me up because it seems almost involuntary. For example, at church we were watching a clip about a baby who was born with a whole in his heart but by the grace of God recovered. Well...one of the scenes showed that baby in a Michigan onesie and I suddenly heard a loud gasp next to me. I looked over to see boyfriend's hand covering his gaping mouth. I felt awful because I burst out in laughter. It had nothing to do with the clip we were watching but I still looked like an insensitive prick. See my point? Not even a new born baby who survived by a miracle is immune. Michigan is Michigan. I doubt I will take it that far but I have to admit....I wore my sweater and sweatpants with pride. (shhhhh...don't tell Lindsey!)