I’m generally agnostic about most supernatural explanations for coincidences. I tease my husband for watching Bigfoot documentaries and I don’t really have any lucky socks or earrings. Tonight was pretty coincidental, though.

My good friend Lora came over to eat with us and we had the Vikings game on in the background. I haven’t watched a ton of football this year like I used to – between the treatment of Colin Kaepernick by the league and the propensity for major brain injuries, it felt bad to watch. I really like watching football, though, so I finally gave in and have been watching a little bit more. It’s a cultural touchstone that’s hard to avoid.

Anyway, Lora haphazardly said “I guess I can watch it. I am a curse on them, though. When I watch, they lose.”

“That’s okay, they are going to blow it anyway,” I joked, referring to the Vikings’ propensity for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

“Ok, but they are going to lose now,” Lora said with a laugh. We sat down to watch after half time.

The Saints scored. Then they scored again. And again. We made jokes that were less and less comfortable. Lora posted on Facebook that they were going to lose because she was watching and she is a curse on them, bwa haha hahaaa. People more invested commented “STOP! Please!!” It was funny, but slowly felt more weird as the Vikings actually seemed to be imploding.

Finally, we decided to go into the kitchen and play a few games of Kerplunk with Annika. We left the TV on. Dak was in the living room and maybe half listening. I was still listening and peeking from time to time. And the Vikings scored.

We talked about going back to watch, because the whole thing was a coincidence, really. But then the Saints scored with less than two minutes left and I figured the game was pretty close to over, just like most of the rest of the people watching it.

We stayed in the kitchen and heard Dak exclaim “HOLY shit.” From upstairs in Anders’ room: “WHAT?” I jumped up and turned the corner to look at the TV, telling Lora “no you stay there! Don’t come in here!” That’s when I saw the replay and figured out what had happened, that there wasn’t any time left. “Ok – you can come in here now!”

I have to say, it was pretty weird. I am still skeptical. Curses? Good luck charms? Good luck rituals? Still don’t seem very plausible.

Still, maybe Lora shouldn’t watch any more Vikings this season. Lora, if you’re reading this: you could hang out in the kitchen, though! 🙂