This time each year, while Americans are all agog for the Super Bowl, I have a personal realization that I have never missed a Super Bowl save my infant years. The only other cultural even I have attended as consistently is Christmas. Thanksgiving, possibly my favorite holiday, is in third place because I missed it in 2002 and 2003 while I was in Ghana and Afghanistan.

I don’t care much for either team, but I am looking forward to the big game!