I take my place at my designated couch position—left side—while Dad takes the right. In front of us at the coffee table is our first-half spread: cheese, crackers, and summer sausage. Dad has his Spotted Cow beer while I drink Sprecher root beer. At ten minutes left in the second quarter, we fire up the grill. We eat burgers, brats, and potato salad during the third quarter and finish off the bingeing with frozen custard in the fourth. It takes a strong and flexible stomach to be a Packers fan. Oh, and we can only use the bathroom during commercial breaks.

“Everything looks good,” Dad says with a satisfied nod as he surveys the room.

Since there’s a commercial break and four minutes before kickoff, I know this is my only opportunity to tell him my news before we both get swept into Packers madness.

“It’s official! I put in my applications for UW.”

“That’s great, honey.” He holds out his beer bottle to cheers me. “Congrats!”

“Thanks.”

“I still can’t get over the fact that you’re growing up. In a few days you’ll be a full-blown adult.” He cocks his head. “Which is odd since I haven’t aged at all.” He rubs his face, which is weathered from working outside all these years.

“Especially mentally.”

“Hey!” he objects before piling three cheese slices and two pieces of sausage on one cracker. “Speaking of the upcoming big day, what do you want to do on Thursday?”

“The usual,” I reply with a smile.

There should be no surprise that Dad and I also have a tradition on my birthday. We first go out for butter burgers and cheese fries. Then we go home, put our pajamas on, and eat frozen custard from the container while watching one of the first Star Wars movies. And I’m not talking about those Episode I to III crap ones. No, the real first movies: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, or Return of the Jedi.

For most of my childhood I had dressed up as Princess Leia for Halloween—even when I started growing out of the costume and the white dress was up to my calves and the bun headband was stretched to capacity. Dad always dressed up as Han Solo. Still does.

“Works for me!” He puts another piece of cheese in his mouth.

(Yeah, we also like cheese. A lot.)

“Even though my applications are in, I still have to apply for the scholarships and financial aid. So I have a bunch more forms for you.”

He nods while chewing, pointing at his full mouth, but I know he’s stalling.