GO, DAD, GO: On my long-overdue journey to Green Bay with my Packers-loving pop

A Packers Hall of Famer led a tour on my 85-year-old dad, Henry's, first-ever visit to Lambeau Field. I'm a Vikings fan, but I was still moved by the moment.

Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer LeRoy Butler shares inspirational and appreciative words with my dad, Henry, at Lambeau Field.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — LeRoy Butler never had it easy. He wore braces on his legs as a youngster. He didn’t have friends. Teachers were the future Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame safety’s lifeline — and he told us that on a recent family tour of Lambeau Field.

“I wouldn’t be anything without my teachers,” Butler said.

My 85-year-old Packers-loving dad, Henry, served as an elementary school teacher in Ames for more than 30 years. My mom, Janet, also taught and worked as a librarian.

So Butler’s message resonated deeply with them on their first-ever visit to dad’s football mecca.

“Pretty neat,” dad said later.

More than that, I thought, then and now.

Butler singled out my parents for handshakes and heartfelt words. They don’t get around very well these days, so my sister, Kristi, her husband, Nick, and I pushed mom and dad around in wheelchairs.

While we moved them, Butler’s words moved me. I know what they meant to my dad, who’s given so much for his family (just like mom). I didn’t shed a tear, but I felt one forming behind my eye socket a time or two, and couldn’t help but smile.

Dad had waited so long for this. A bucket list item checked off rather late in life. It was a perfect day and I’m so glad my 15-year-old son, Derek, could share it with us.

I was also touched because I’d spurned his beloved Packers and picked the Minnesota Vikings as “my team” at the age of five. Derek followed in my footsteps — and now suffers along with me. We didn’t hide our allegiances when we toured the Packers Hall of Fame and the volunteer behind the counter said, '“Make sure to check out our four Super Bowl trophies.”

Zing.

I took the joke in stride. Dad was on cloud nine. Derek and I exchanged rueful, knowing looks. Yeah, we’re still waiting for that first Vikings Super Bowl win, but that’s on us — and I’ll close this post with these words not spoken often enough:

“I wouldn’t be anything without you, mom and dad.”

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