Been There, Done That

As a child of the 80’s and early 90’s, I have truly lived the idiom, “Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt.”  In fact, I love collecting event t-shirts!  I have no problem wearing t-shirts from events that happened decades ago, and of course, those most-well-loved, many-times-laundered treasures have the ability to make any day just a little better.
We are beginning our 23rd season together, and along the way I have been saving and storing t-shirts from the places we have taught and coached.  When Coach became a head football coach, I told him I want to have at least one special t-shirt made each year, something keepsake worthy to remember all the fun seasons, the unique schools, the special people, and the blessed gift of days.  Someday I will turn those tees into a quilt that we will use to snuggle up on the couch to watch TV together…you know, when he retires and is home some/more to snuggle up on the couch to watch TV together.
For Coach’s very first game as a head football coach (2015), I came up with this “white out” shirt:

Coach wanted everyone in white shirts to help protect them from the brutal heat that afternoon.  (Turned out to be a very good idea as we went in to overtime, and it was really, really hot that day.)  After that thrilling, overtime VICTORY, I was especially glad that I had been there, done that, AND bought the t-shirt!
Many schools do “pink out” or special themed games to support a cause.  We both believe in using a platform to promote something positive, something that unites and unifies, and Coach chose to do something that celebrates those championing a world without Alzheimer’s while developing awareness for both the disease and the Alzheimer’s Association and the many services the Association offers to communities across America and even throughout the world.  Our First Annual Alzheimer’s Awareness Game (2015) was a good start with purple towels for the players, pom-poms and bracelets for the fans, and on-field recognition for special contributors from within our Golden Hurricane family who are making a tremendous difference in the battle to end ALZ.
Fast forward to Year 2.  To turn it up a notch for his 2nd Annual Alzheimer’s Awareness Game (2016), Coach and I decided to use our annual t-shirt project to create a more memorable event.  The good news is that those who “went there, did that, and bought the t-shirt” absolutely LOVE that t-shirt!  It is the softest, soft cotton ever felt.  It’s a washed-out blue with bright gold lettering, and I see that t-shirt on our football boys all the time.

The less-than-good news is that not a lot of shirts were sold.  So, now in Year 3, I have begun the t-shirt campaign a little sooner.  This year’s t-shirt is a light purple, soft cotton that says “Tackling Alzheimer’s One Step at a Time” on the front and will have our TU game date and info on the back.

The message points to our Walk to End Alzheimer’s which takes place on campus the morning of Coach’s ALZ Awareness Game while also tying in the game itself.  We hope to see thousands at the Walk on September 23rd, we hope to sell many more shirts for our third commemorative tee, and we hope tons of our Tulsa community members will be in the stands later that day to support Coach and the boys and an end to ALZ.
Midwest Sporting Goods here in Tulsa has helped me create a website to sell our t-shirts:
https://stores.inksoft.com/tualz2017/shop/home
We have a first-run of shirts that will be counted and ordered this week, so please place your order by August 30th to be included in this initial order.
Well…we’ve been here today, we’ve done this blog post together, and now GO BUY YOUR T-SHIRT 😉
With love and hugs,
Ashli
PS: We have been giving away the 2016 shirts at various events these past 12 months and have just a few remaining.  Be sure to come out for Yoga With Momma Monty in Centennial Park (6th/Peoria) this Saturday, September 2nd from 9:30 – 11 if you’d like to pick one up.