Couple’s 40th anniversary demonstrably Blue

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/11/2019 (1224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Tomorrow’s Grey Cup game has me wondering how many Manitoba homes and businesses have Winnipeg Blue Bombers gear/memorabilia in them.

Quick, somebody whip up a gold map of Manitoba with little blue stars indicating where they all are.

This I can tell you. One of the brightest blue stars on that map, if not the brightest, would glow brilliantly from right here in Winnipeg at the home of two of the most dedicated Bomber fans on the planet — North Kildonan’s Laurie and Cathie Fischer.

Surprisingly, their house is not painted blue and gold, but it should be.

I mean, consider… they got married on Grey Cup weekend on Nov. 24, 1979. And tomorrow, Grey Cup day, Nov. 24, 2019, they celebrate 40 fabulous years of wedded bliss with a Grey Cup party at a local sports bar, hosting 80 of their most loyal blue-and-gold family and friends. Proud to say I just happen to be one of them.

How they managed to have the Big Blue playing in the Grey Cup to help mark this extremely special occasion is beyond me. Except… that maybe every once in a while, the big coach in the sky chooses a couple of passionately devout fans to reward for their loyalty. No question Laurie and Cathie Fischer are the perfect choice.

Loyal, not only to the Big Blue, but also the Grey Cup. When I asked the happily-ever-after-pair for a little information regarding their Bombers-Cup participation over the years, I must admit to being a tad shocked at the info supplied.

Before kicking that off, I should mention Laurie says he chose Grey Cup weekend so he’d never forget their anniversary. Such a clever boy.

Now, I’ll give you as much of this as I can fit in. Laurie had a bit of a head start Grey Cup-wise — this history details his involvement from age 10 to 65, doubling both the pleasure and the fun when he and Cathie teamed up in 1979:

● 1964: Laurie is in Toronto for B.C.’s 43-24 win over Hamilton;

● 1970: Laurie, now 16, is in Toronto for Montreal’s 23-10 win over Calgary.

● 1972: Laurie is in Hamilton for Hamilton’s 13-10 win over Saskatchewan.

● 1979: Married on Grey Cup weekend, Laurie wears a blue tux for Edmonton’s 20-13 win over Montreal.

● November 23, 1980: Laurie travels solo to Toronto for Edmonton’s 48-10 win over Hamilton and makes it home for his first anniversary. Good thing.

● 1984: The couple wins the Grey Cup pool, as Winnipeg defeats Hamilton 47-17.

● 1989: Laurie and Cathie attend the Grey Cup in Toronto and celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary as Saskatchewan defeats Hamilton 43-40, won by a field goal last play of the game in the “best GC finish ever.”

● 1990: The last time Winnipeg wins the Cup, with a 50-11 decision over over Edmonton in B.C.

● 1991: In Winnipeg for the couple’s 12th anniversary. Laurie is chairman of the ambassadors, but there is marital tension. Toronto, where Laurie grew up, defeats Calgary (Cathie’s hometown) 36-21.

● 1995: The couple attended the Cup in Regina, where Baltimore defeated Calgary 37-20. Baltimore is the only U.S. team ever to win the Cup.

● 1998: Big year. Couple attends Grey Cup in Winnipeg. Calgary edges Hamilton 26-24. Laurie is chairman of volunteers for the Cup, responsible for the organization of more than 800 volunteers and sets up infrastructure for all volunteer roles and activities for the entire Grey Cup festival week in Winnipeg, while Cathie serves as chairwoman of Cup VIP services. Wow!

● 2006: Couple in Winnipeg for B.C.’s 25-14 win over Montreal.

● 2007: Couple travels to Toronto for Saskatchewan’s 23-19 win over Bombers after QB Kevin Glenn breaks arm.

● 2019: To celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary, couple hosting a Grey Cup party at home, Winnipeg versus Hamilton, being played in Calgary.

No wonder somebody up there likes them. Tomorrow, they’ll get nothing but love from family and friends as we gather to watch the game, which Cathie calls 24-19, Winnipeg over Hamilton, Laurie, 22-20, same.

As for you fab Fischers, congrats. Carry on winning. Happy anniversary.

Go Blue!

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