“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
― Anne of Green Gables
I was so excited to get out of this LA heat for the weekend, and boy did I need it. It was about 50-60 degrees the entirety of our trip. I was comfortable in a simple thick sweater, the air was cool, but the sun was warm. It was a perfect balance.
We drove from Portland to Eugene, and it was so beautiful. After exiting the city of Portland you saw nothing but green fields, hills, and farms. Entering the local neighborhoods of Eugene was like entering my autumnal dreams. Each lawn covered in red, orange, and brown and dozens of acorns were scattered across the floor. I had to pick some up because, in witchcraft, acorns represent good luck and protection.
We explored the campus a little and had dinner at Beppe Giannis, per my request, and we had dessert at the same ice cream shop Obama went to. We ended the night watching Animal House, which was filmed in Oregon. According to Kevin, it was crucial to see before my game at Autzen.
S A T U R D A Y: GAME DAY
Everyone and their children were decked out in Oregon ducks gear Saturday morning, from a girl working at a car wash to the local diners and cafes covering their windows with Ducks decorations. Yellow and green were spread across the town, along with yellow and orange trees at every corner.
We slept for ten hours and woke up at 9:30 to get ready for game day. We grabbed breakfast at a local coffee shop and chilled for a few hours watching Terrace House on Netflix before we headed out.
I was nervous at first. As a Latina, I wasn't sure how I would be welcomed in the area. I've been to the south where some people were charming and others not so much. I've had a man tell me "MAGA " in Seal Beach, and I've had many bad experiences with drunk people in Santa Monica. The drinking college atmosphere was something I was afraid of, but I knew I would be okay as long as I'm with Kevin. I was, however, pleasantly surprised.
We went to Taylor's bar and grill, a must-do pit stop according to Kevin, to grab a drink before we walked through. Everyone was super polite, some people were drunk, but everyone was very polite. I went to a bar in Santa Monica and no one could hear or understand the concept of "excuse me." here it was the exact opposite. Everyone was super nice and full of smiles if I somehow made eye contact with someone I was greeted with a smile. It was nice and even though it was for a short amount of time, it relaxed my nerves a little bit.
We also planned to tailgate with his friend from his college days. This was also a first, I've never tailgated either. We walked throughout the tailgating area; some tents were decked out like it was a wedding reception, people were grilling up a storm, and almost everyone was playing corn hole. We finally got to the tailgate and enjoyed some food and drinks before going inside.
This would be my first Ducks game at Autzen stadium. My first game was in Tempe, AZ where the Ducks lost to ASU. The atmosphere was subpar compared to Autzen stadium.
Walking in was like walking into a Roman arena. The noise level was off the charts and something I never experienced at a Dodger game or a Patriots football game. Yellow and green filled the stadium, only a few red spots were seen, but there was no animosity between two teams.
I lost my voice at halftime. The only time my cheering wasn't frowned upon was in Autzen stadium. I'm used to people turning around, making snide comments, and kids giving me the death stare, but here, none of that happened. The crowd was so nice and energetic; it made the experience so much better. The best part was during "Shout," I felt like a child again singing along and dancing with the rest of the crowd. I understood why Animal House was crucial to watch beforehand. The game-winning field goal was something out of a movie; fans and students running onto the field and the team lifting the kicker to celebrate. Our ears were ringing when we got home and in the morning I was afraid to talk because I was afraid it would hurt. We got up early to go to the airport but upon leaving Eugene, I felt sad. I loved the cool autumnal breeze and seeing the trees change colors with leaves falling delicately to the ground. I honestly felt more at home in Eugene than I do in LA. I've told some friends that I want to move outside of LA. I prefer to be closer to nature, in LA, that means going to Big Bear, Yosemite, or Sequoia. I find solace in nature and it's where I'm my best self.
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