Official Cowboys at Packers Game Day Thread

[Fritz]

Okay, Rats, I'm going to do this.

This game day thread is in honor of my wife Tonya, who passed away early Thursday morning after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Like the Packers, I am bruised and torn and lost right now.

But my wife was a fighter. She scratched and clawed and fought every inch of the way. She never gave up, ever, even when it became clear this past year what was coming. Even when our oncologist gave us "the talk" three weeks ago (it's okay to stop treating the cancer, nothing more we can really do, all of that), when we went into the hospital the next day and the rounding oncologist asked her if she was stopping chemo or just putting it on pause, she said, "Oh, we're just on pause."

When I asked her, after she lost her balance and could hardly walk by herself, if it was time for a walker, she said "We're not there yet." When I told her I wanted to put shower bars in the bathroom, she said "I don't think we're there yet." She just refused to give in. Her body gave out, but her mind and her spirit never did.

So my wish is that somehow this thread will spin out into the universe and imbue the Packers today with that same spirit. Win or lose, may they play with that kind of will.

[Joemailman]

My condolences Fritz. Obviously makes any problems we have seem totally insignificant. May the Packers today compete as tough as Tonya did.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Sorry for your loss, Fritz.

[Fritz]

My condolences Fritz. Obviously makes any problems we have seem totally insignificant. May the Packers today compete as tough as Tonya did.

As I have gotten older I have learned this lesson. I used to live and die with a Packer victory or loss - somehow I connected their success or failure to a sense of who I was. My screaming-at-the-television was legendary in our neighborhood.

But time passes, and yes, that pales in significance as we look at our own real lives.

But I do hope the Packers will stand up and fight.

I'll never forget the Packers' 2014 game against the Patriots. My wife had just had surgery to take out 80% of her pancreas, and they'd just moved her out of the ICU to a general ward. She was fast asleep, so I went down to the family lounge and turned on the game.

It was one of Mike McCarthy's best games. He had that team ready. They took it to New England the whole game. It was that scrappy, chippy quality MM had that came out from time to time.

That was the beginning of our cancer journey. Now, at the close of that journey, I'd like to see Green Bay come full circle, and come out fighting, and keep fighting, the whole way.

[oldbutnotdeadyet]

Okay, Rats, I'm going to do this.

This game day thread is in honor of my wife Tonya, who passed away early Thursday morning after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Like the Packers, I am bruised and torn and lost right now.

But my wife was a fighter. She scratched and clawed and fought every inch of the way. She never gave up, ever, even when it became clear this past year what was coming. Even when our oncologist gave us "the talk" three weeks ago (it's okay to stop treating the cancer, nothing more we can really do, all of that), when we went into the hospital the next day and the rounding oncologist asked her if she was stopping chemo or just putting it on pause, she said, "Oh, we're just on pause."

When I asked her, after she lost her balance and could hardly walk by herself, if it was time for a walker, she said "We're not there yet." When I told her I wanted to put shower bars in the bathroom, she said "I don't think we're there yet." She just refused to give in. Her body gave out, but her mind and her spirit never did.

So my wish is that somehow this thread will spin out into the universe and imbue the Packers today with that same spirit. Win or lose, may they play with that kind of will.

I am truly sorry for your lost. It makes these 'sport' things insignificant in comparison..

[Fritz]

Thank you. Although this is a virtual community, it's still a community. So thank you for that.

[bobblehead]

Fritz, way to start my sunday with tears. I was fortunate, my wife had a good outcome with Lymphoma, but all the fears and heartache that came with the battle I understand all too well. Her valor is what you hold on to as you have to live with it. My wife was a fighter as well and as I said she got past it over a decade ago now. Early september she crashed her bike and had 3 broken ribs, broken clavicle, broken scapula. That hasn't stopped her either as she is back on her feet (and embarrassing me on our hikes). In life we are blessed if we can find a partner that humbles us from time to time. Hold onto her memory as it will keep you strong.

Some 7 or 8 years ago my good friends father died an hour after we lost to the Seahawks in that OT blunder and to this day we joke that Mike McCarthy killed his dad (it was cancer as well, but fat mike was the finisher). Maybe after today I can tell a better story about Fritz's late wife looked down and helped the packers avenge my friends dad by curb stomping the Cowboys.

I'll say a prayer.

[KYPack]

Whoa, Fritz. Had to rip off a chuck of paper towel to wipe of couple tears off my mug. That is a tough one. Please be assured that you have my deepest, heartfelt sympathy.

For a couple years, you've been my designated poster. If I see somebody post something stupid, wrong. or an out right lie, I wait to check out the replies. 99% of the time, Fritz would post the same things I would include in my post. Thanx for doing that and maintaining that great sense of humor.

Hang in there, you've got whatever support someone can give another over cyber space.

[beveaux1]

So sorry for your loss, Fritz. I echo KY's thoughts. Hope you keep the game day thread till the end of the year.

[Fritz]

Whoa, Fritz. Had to rip off a chuck of paper towel to wipe of couple tears off my mug. That is a tough one. Please be assured that you have my deepest, heartfelt sympathy.

For a couple years, you've been my designated poster. If I see somebody post something stupid, wrong. or an out right lie, I wait to check out the replies. 99% of the time, Fritz would post the same things I would include in my post. Thanx for doing that and maintaining that great sense of humor.

Hang in there, you've got whatever support someone can give another over cyber space.

Thanks to you, to Bobble, to everyone.

KY, mebbe I'll head down your way one of these days on my way to visit my daughter, and we can have a beer and talk about whether the Pack is really using Deguara correctly. Or something.

[KYPack]

Thanks to you, to Bobble, to everyone.

KY, mebbe I'll head down your way one of these days on my way to visit my daughter, and we can have a beer and talk about whether the Pack is really using Deguara correctly. Or something.

Absolutely. I got the beer. They've rebuilt the Track. Thursday was dollar beer at the old joint.

You got a permanent free pass in my book.

Hope to see you at the quarter pole lounge.

[MadtownPacker]

Fritz - That is a beautiful post. May your Tonya rest peacefully until you are reunited. There are really no words so just know we are here for you always man.

[Fosco33]

My condolences, Fritz. That’s a long battle and your wife sounds like quite the fighter! I too don’t get worked up about the Pack as life and connections seems so sooo much bigger. But for a few hours every weekend in the Fall - a community does come together and battles.

Cheers - win or lose - let’s hope for a fight!

[red]

OMG

I'm so sorry fritz

hang in there buddy

[CaptainKickass]

May the Pack kick ass for Tonya.
Obligatory game day post.