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A Sensory Experience

Posted on January 17, 2009 by auburnchick

We’re spending the weekend in Metairie, Louisiana.  Soccer Chick has an ODP (Olympic Development Program) regional tournament.

I drove her over on Friday after school, stopping to pick up a teammate along the way.  We had a pleasant drive.  I dropped off the girls at the team’s hotel and made my way two exits down to my own hotel, spending the night by myself.  I must admit that although it felt odd at first, I quickly grew to appreciate being totally alone.

Chicky woke me up from a sound sleep by sending me a text message to remind me to take my sneakers to her hotel…long story not worth telling.

Once I was out and about, I figured that I might as well go exploring.  I mean, I had the GPS, so why not!

Metairie is just north of New Orleans…an easy drive…especially when you’re looking for a certain type of store.

Getting my drift???

As I drove, I saw the Super Dome (famous site of Hurricane Katrina victims):

I also saw this lovely church:

The streets in New Orleans are very quaint:

And then I parked the car and made my way down the street to this place:

I consider it my mission to inspect yarn stores across the country and give you a review of them.  Can you tell that I’m trying to justify my latest adventure??

Here’s the view you get when you walk in:

To your right is the “Sale Room.”

Everything in the Sale Room was 50% off.  Here’s another picture of it, so you can see all of the lovelies in the room:

As you continue further in the store, you see, to the right, shelving with lots of books and magazines:

As you pass the shelving, you see the following, along the left side of the store, extending towards the back:

This is just one section of that wall on the left:

And on the right side:

The right side of the store is a sock knitter’s paradise.  This is an entire section dedicated to Koigu sock yarn:

And here’s a section of various other sock yarns.  The right section of this wall is all Tofutsies…the most colors I’ve ever seen in one store:

Here’s a couple of gals I spent time talking to.  The lady in front was learning how to knit in the round.  Her ribbing looked amazing for a first-time knitter!  The gal behind her works at the store and was providing instruction and encouragement to the other gal.  She was quite knowledgeable, friendly, and enabled me in my purchase (you’ll see later in this post).  Her blog is here.

So, with all of that fabulous yarn, whatever was I going to do?  It would have been rude to walk out without getting anything.  Especially after everyone had been helping me pick my jaw off the floor.  I mean, I’m from a small town where such delicious yummies do not exist!

Here’s what I got:

And here are close-ups of the yarn.  I have to say that the Misti Alpaca was a total splurge.  Once I touched it, I knew I had to have it.  I am already feeling it around my neck.  I will cast on for a scarf tomorrow when I get home from LA.

Misty Alpaca - Colorway is Marvelous

Misti Alpaca - Colorway is "Marvelous"

The Koigu was too much to pass up.  All of the Koigu was beautiful!  The colors are vibrant.  I selected a solid color to give me more leeway in pattern selection:

Koigu

And the last purchase is Boomerang.  The colorway is White Zifandel.  I bought it because it’s worsted weight, and I am going to use it when my friend Christina (Rabbitrescuer) and I make socks.  I’m going to walk her through her first sock pattern, and she wants to use worsted weight.  I wanted to make my life easier and not have to adjust the pattern for thinner yarn.  Sure, whatever excuse works, eh?  And besides that, because it’s worsted weight, I’ll be able to get two pairs of socks out of the 320 yard skein.  Ha!  Two for the price of one, eh?

Boomerang - White Zifandel

Boomerang - White Zifandel

Now, I have to tell you that after I left the store, my head felt like it was in a fog…in a good way.  I have never gotten to visit such a fabulous yarn store.  The assortment of goodies was vast.

I called a friend and shared my giddiness.  She totally understood.

Yarn shopping is a sensory experience, as many of you know.  First, you experience visual satisfaction as your eyes lay sight of vibrant colors.  It’s like a mosaic, with all of the colors combining to form a masterpiece.

Yarn shopping is also about touch.  As you roll the yarn between your fingers, you envision yet-to-be-worked projects.  Will this make a good scarf, you wonder to yourself.  What about a pair of socks?  How will this feel on my feet? Your mind starts working overtime as it tries to process the visions placed before it.  Will a hat be warm if I use this yarn?

Yes, shopping for yarn is an uplifting experience.  It’s as if you are transported to a time of innocence and wonder, much like that of a child’s when something is brand new.  If leaves you filled with joy that’s difficult to explain to a non-yarney.

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

An Update on Soccer Chick

Posted on January 16, 2009 by auburnchick

Yes, I’m a bit of a worrier.  I can’t help it.  I like to fix things, whether it is a computer or a child.

I called Soccer Chick’s physical therapist/trainer this morning and asked for her to be fit into his schedule.  He is an amazing guy…generous to a fault.  He always has room on his calendar for Soccer Chick.  I was a bit concerned as I called because his wife is due to deliver twins any day now.  Fortunately it wasn’t today.

After pulling and pushing on Chicky’s leg…basically torturing her…he came to the conclusion that she has a contusion.

Oh fright!

Naw…not really.  While the word sounds fearsome, it’s just a synonym for bruise.  Apparently her run-in with a thick-legged (her words, not mine) player last week primed her for the additional pain she incurred when she got cleated last night.

Before leaving the clinic, she had been iced, electrically shocked/stimulated (her leg, not her brain), wrapped, and drugged with Motrin.  The goal is to get the swelling down.  Ideally, she should rest it, but that’s not going to happen, so we’re going to do the best we can.

Please continue to pray for her.  She’s got some tough soccer ahead of her this weekend, and then her high school team has district playoffs next week.  Nary a break, I tell you.

Thanks.  🙂

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: | 1 Comment »

A Rare Sight

Posted on January 15, 2009 by auburnchick

Picture this:

AuburnChick sits on the couch, watching TV.

Rooster sits on the couch, doing homework and having a bite to eat.

Soccer Chick sits on the couch, doing homework and studying for tests.

All three of us in one room, at the same time.

This really did hapen tonight after Chick’s game (her team won).

I’m not exactly sure why we were all sitting together.  I suspect it has something to do with Soccer Chick getting banged up tonight.  Someone on the other team kicked her shin cleat-side, and Chicky’s leg is very sore and swollen.

Needless to say, I am very concerned.  It’s not often that she gets hurt.

She has a very important tournament in New Orleans this weekend.  We’re set to leave tomorrow after school.  It looks like I’ll be calling her physical therapist tomorrow to get his opinion.  I’m hoping it’s just a deep bruise, as indicated by the physical trainer (not the same guy) at the game.

The good news is that she’s walking okay.  But we’re all nervous.

Rooster treated her very gingerly, eager to retrieve her ice pack from the freezer.  I made her a burger, and Rooster served it to her on the couch.

She’s scared, so she’s being somewhat kind and tolerant of my overprotectiveness.

Please pray for her — for physical healing, for peace, and for wisdom.  I know, from what we went through with her knee a couple of years ago, that going through injuries isn’t the end of the world.  It doesn’t mean that it’s something that you enjoy, though.

Filed under: soccer | 2 Comments »

A Mean Trick

Posted on December 16, 2008 by auburnchick

I think I already mentioned that Soccer Chick went to practice on Sunday.  Mr. AuburnChick drove her (it was two hours away).  Later that afternoon, I called Chicky to see if they were on their way home.  She assured me that they were.

During the course of the conversation, I asked how practice had gone.  Her team had scheduled a scrimmage with a boys’ team.

“Oh it well good, Mama,” she said.  “One of my eyes is swollen shut.  Another boy and I butted heads when we went up for a ball.”

“Oh my!” I exclaimed.  “Do you have a concussion?”

I’ve seen a few kids get concussions when they go up for headers.  I was especially worried because boys don’t always play nice, even if they are playing against girls.

Soccer Chick continued…”Daddy is taking me to the hospital.”

“What??  Oh my!” I shouted into the phone.

Then I heard it.

Laughing.

Actually, it was a howl of hysteria.

She thought she was funny.

I, on the other hand, did not.

You see, I tend to be a worry-wort…especially since she hurt her knee a couple of years ago.

After reprimanding her sternly for almost giving me a heart attack, I hung up.  Then, I did what any mother would do.

I called her father, who of course had heard the entire conversation since he was driving the car.

Ring, ring…

Instead of the customary hello, all I heard was laughing.

“Mr. AuburnChick, if you ever do anything like that, I will personally strangle you.”

So, that was on Sunday.

Last night Soccer Chick had a high school game, and I sat in the bleachers taking pictures like I usually do.

The game was almost over when I spied, through the camera lens, her going up for a header.  She’s real good at these, usually winning them against much taller opponents.

What I saw, however, gave me cause for alarm.  As she came down, she grabbed her head.  So did the other player.  Below is a picture:

I used my camera like a set of binoculars and watched her walk off the field.  A trainer on staff checked her out to ensure that she was okay.

She was.

I wasn’t.

As soon as the final whistle blew (her team won 4-0), I headed to the other side of the field.

She was mad when she saw me coming.

Obviously she was okay.

She told me that the other girl got the worst of the collision.  Her eye was completely swollen.  Soccer Chick has some bruising on her eyelid.

Very fortunate, that girl of mine.

This is a good lesson to take care that you speak good things and never, ever play mean jokes on Mom.

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

2 Years Ago Today…

Posted on December 12, 2008 by auburnchick

December 12, 2006…

Soccer Chick’s high school team played another school, and she tore her ACL.  She was a freshman…one of only two that made Varsity that year.

Here’s what her knee looked like after she underwent surgery two months later:

Sorry…kind of gross…hope nobody fainted just now.

Anyhow, as you know, she made a full recovery.  The next fall, guess who was playing on December 12th?  Yep.  Soccer Chick’s team and the same team as the year before…on the same field.  Talk about nervous…

Me, not Soccer Chick.

She made it through the game and the season, much stronger than before her injury.

Well, here we are two years later…December 12th…and guess which teams played?

Yep.  Soccer Chick’s team against the same team as the previous two years…on the same field.

Now, I have to admit that I’ve known about this since the first schedule came out back in September.  I wasn’t about to say a word to Chicky though.

All day, my innards have had that queasy feel to them when you’re dreading something.  Soccer Chick didn’t make me feel any better when she came up to me before the game and asked me if I knew what today was.

Somehow I believed that not speaking it aloud would not draw attention to it.  She knew though.  She’d remembered it yesterday.

Because I photograph the games, I could justify the means by which I kept a close eye on her.  Thank goodness my camera has 18x zoom.  Soocer Chick will probably dominate tonight’s photos.  Sorry people…it’s all about the Chick this time…photographer’s perogative.

The girls scored fairly quickly, and near the end of the game, we had five goals to the other team’s one.  Soccer Chick was subbed out.  I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

I truly am not superstitious.  I know that God has a plan, and her injury was part of that plan.  I can’t even begin to list the blessings that we received because of that fateful day two years ago.

However, December 12th will always be one of those dates that you don’t celebrate but always take note of.

Congratulations, Chicky, on another year.  May you never take your talents for granted and always use them to honor the Lord who so generously bestowed them upon you.

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Life Through a Camera Lens

Posted on December 8, 2008 by auburnchick

Lately I have become quite the photography queen.

I don’t know if you remember when I purchased a new camera this past summer.  It is the Nikon Coolpix P80, and it’s a great camera for the novice photographer.  I talked about my new camera in this post.

With both of my children playing high school soccer, I’m giving the camera quite the workout, averaging over 1,000 pictures per game (if it doesn’t rain).  I use the Sports mode, which allows me to take at least 16 frames every time I hold down the shutter button.

Now, I have watched A LOT of soccer during Soccer Chick’s nearly ten years of playing.  I know how the game is supposed to be played.  However, watching the game through the camera lens is giving me a totally different perspective.  There’s a lot more that happens on the field than appears to the untrained casual observer.

After I transfer the pictures to my computer, I meticulously go through them, shot by shot, to weed out the blurry or random pictures…in the search for THE picture.  The one that captures the moment to a “T.”  Looking at the pictures is almost like watching the game in slow motion…an advantage the spectators do not have because there is no instant replay in soccer.

I am truly in awe at the athleticism of the players.  The height that some of the ladies get on their jumps as they go up for headers reminds me of Michael Jordan.  Folks, most of these girls are not over 5’5″.  My own Chicky stands at a mere 5’2″ and she sometimes gets to the tops of other players shoulders.

Wow!

And the faces the kids make as they prepare themselves to make contact with the ball…scrunching up their faces…squinting their eyes.  They are far braver than I am.  I would be turning tail and running away.

Some of my favorite pictures are the ones of the kids making the extra stretch to tap the ball out from under the feet of other players.  Graceful motion is what it is.

Here’s what I’m talking about.  No, this is not Soccer Chick, but it is a picture from her game.

How can you not love this game and admire those who play it!

Sometimes I wonder what I would see if I took a camera lens to my daily life.  I doubt I would like many of the pictures I would see…the little nuances that I think I’m slipping by everyone.

Hmm…food for thought…

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

Another Busy Weekend!

Posted on November 23, 2008 by auburnchick

Whew!  I’m exhausted!  I’ve been on the go since Friday afternoon with scarcely any time to rest, let alone blog.

Rooster’s team played in a tournament.  The first game was Friday evening.  It was chilly, but I considered myself lucky that he wasn’t playing at a later time like some teams.  His team tied 1-1.  This usually isn’t good when you want to win the tournament.

We got home exhausted and retired a little early for bed.

Rooster and I woke at the crack of dawn to head back to the field at 7:30 the next morning.  It was COLD!  Thank goodness for Mr. Heater.  He was great company.  Unfortunately, there was only one ref for the game, so the game was delayed for an hour while a backup referee made his way to town.

Grrr…I could have stayed snuggled under the covers for an extra hour.  At least we were locally situated.  The team we played against woke up at 4:30 to get here on time.  Poor guys.  They still gave our team a good fight, but we defeated them.

Things were looking up.  If a multitude of things lined up perfectly, we had a chance of going to the finals.  We still had another game to play though.

Between games, we fed Rooster and headed home for a short while.  The poor dogs…they were on their own for much of the day, but we were kind enough to leave them inside.  It was a cold day, and we didn’t want them to freeze.

Rooster’s team made easy work out of its next opponent.  I got some great pictures.  It was deceptively sunny…perfect for amateur photographers.  In between games, I uploaded the photos to my laptop and charged the battery.  Remind me to tell everyone that I want an extra camera battery for Christmas.

Rooster’s team made it to the finals, and by the time we arrived at the fields, it was dark and cold, cold, cold.  Mr. Heater got a new tank of propane.  We were especially close during that game.  I sat on the very top bleacher and pointed my camera toward the field.

It was a tough fight, and our boys came out on the losing end, 2-1.  I was proud of them though.  The other team was strong.  We’re lucky we didn’t get beat by much worse.

By the time we got home, we were pooped.  I was grumpy…the “All-I-Want-To-Do-Is-Climb-Into-Bed” grumpy.  We all wearily climbed into our beds.  I didn’t turn on the computer or pull out knitting needles all day!  You KNOW I was tired!

Soccer Chick and I woke up in time to attend church.  Afterwards, we made a grocery list, planning our Thanksgiving dishes as we went.  She offered to go to the store for me.

Gotta love having a teen who can drive, eh?!

While she was gone, I uploaded the pictures from my camera and spent hours meticulously weaning out the good from the bad.  I had taken over 3,000 pictures this weekend, so I’m not exaggerating when I say it was a cumbersome project.  However, it was one done in love.

I uploaded the pictures to shutterfly.com, my site of choice when sharing albums with others.  The site doesn’t require people to register before viewing.  I like this.

As I uploaded pictures, I discovered that I could create a site from which to share all albums at once.  Previously, I had been sharing individual album links.  This would make my job much easier.  I’m proud of my hurried attempt.

And that leads me to now…the first time I’ve sat down to actually relax in two days.  I’m watching the movie edition of the new season of 24.  You’ve just gotta love Jack Bauer.

Oh, and before I forget…

I’ve been wanting to show you what I sent my swap partner.  I couldn’t post these pictures earlier because she had not received her package.  But now I can!

Here’s a close-up of the cozy I made for her.  It’s called the Flirtation Cozy, and it’s a free pattern.  I used Patons SWS in the color Natural Snow.  A comment about the yarn…not my favorite.  I had expected the soy blend to be soft…having fondled it in the store many times.  However, I found that it was itchy to knit with, and the yarn was kind of poofy, making the cables difficult to do.  I had to use a cable needle.

The pattern itself is easy, and I love the way the cozy turned out.  I’ve had it in my Ravelry queue for quite some time, so it was good to finally have the chance to make it.  I included a skein of Patons and the pattern in case Fig wants to make one.

Flirtation Cozy

I also made this ornament.  The pattern is found in the holiday edition of Knit Simple.  I used leftover Lamb’s Pride yarn from the booga bag I made this summer.  The project is super easy and uses very little yarn.  I liked it because it helped me stay within the $5 mandate of the Swap.

And on another knitting note, this week I received a completed Oddball blanket.  I’ve been getting knitters to send them to me when they are completely finished so I can wash them and prep them to be donated.

One of the knitters, who lives in Hawaii, sent these goodies along with the blanket:

What a sweet gal!  The yarn is superwash merino and heavenly to the touch!  I’m envisioning a pair of socks.  The nuts are already gone (sheepish grin).

And so concludes my weekend.

I have to sub three days this week, and then we’ll have the long Thanksgiving weekend.  I’ll check in before then.

If you’re traveling, be safe.  When you’re eating, take it slow…it’s all about pacing yourself.

Filed under: Knitting, soccer | Tagged: , , , , | 3 Comments »

Rockin’ Rooster Scores a Goal!

Posted on November 16, 2008 by auburnchick

I told you I’ve been busy, didn’t I?  Saturday proved no exception.

I got up early enough to run some errands.  Look where I went:

Why did I go to the post office?  Well, I had to mail this:

And proof that both were in the same place at the same time:

Thank goodness for camera phones.  You see, I wanted to torture my swap partner, Fig, and I had a stroke of genius (this happens occasionally, you know).

I got home from my errands just in time to take Rockin’ Rooster shopping for some Under Armour.  If you’re not familiar with this line of clothing, click here.  Anyone who plays sports outdoors knows how vital this clothing is.  Players wear it under their uniforms, and it helps insulate them from the cold by acting as a barrier between the sweat and their clothing.

Rooster and I had about five minutes to shop.  Yeah, not a lot of time.  We actually ran through the store.  We considered ourselves lucky to find one adult large shirt (for those broad shoulders, you know) along with some shorts.  We paid (thank goodness nobody was in line ahead of us) and ran out to the car.  Rooster thought he would be late.  He was wrong.  I knew the best way to get to the fields, and we got to our destination right on time.

Don’t you know that I totally appreciated the rare day that things were going right.

I got myself set up on the bleachers, wearing my brand new Palindrome Scarf, made out of the heavenly Mmmmm.  My head was warm under the Koolhaas Hat I completed a couple of months ago.  I’m sure other parents thought I was overdoing it.  It didn’t take them long to realize just how smart (and talented) I was (and am).  Yeah, I was the object of envy, and I just loved it!

The game was an easy one for our team, and we quickly gained the lead.  Rooster was sent in to sub for a starter.  We were thrilled because we weren’t sure how much playing time he would get after being gone from the game for so long.  He wasn’t as nervous as the first game.  As he got in the rhythm of the game, he started making a few moves that surprised us.

And then his big moment arrived.

Rooster scored one of the prettiest goals I’ve seen.

I had been a good mom up until this moment, obliging his request to not yell (even good things) while he’s playing.  He told me it’s distracting.  However, when he scored, I had to yell, “Go Rooster (ok, I used his real name)!!!  I can yell now that you scored!”

Everyone laughed.

Apparently that goal was the shot of confidence that he needed.  His moves improved in complexity.  Soccer Chick was watching the game, and she was incredulous!  “Did you see that move?!  Where did Brother Rooster get those moves!  Oh wait…I taught them to him.”

Duh!  You guys are related, my dear.

All-in-all…a fine afternoon!  We stayed and watched the varsity team win its game.  I had a chance to use my camera and took over 1,000 pictures.  Of course, once I culled them down, I wound up with about 600 good ones.  It was the perfect day for soccer and cameras.

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: | 2 Comments »

A Whirlwind of a Week!

Posted on November 15, 2008 by auburnchick

Oh my goodness!  Where did the week go?  When last I left you, it was Wednesday, and Soccer Chick was running off the field to go to the bathroom!  The weather was rainy, but the team managed to pull out a win.

I’ve been subbing every day, which is good when the bills come in.  I figured out, though, that I’m working more hours than I have in a long time!  Because the games have been so early, I’ve only had a few minutes at home after work before leaving for the fields.  So, I haven’t had much time to be online…updating the blog and keeping up with Ravelry and oddball blankets.  I’m playing catch-up this morning.

Things haven’t changed as the week progressed.  Rooster played a game on Thursday.  His team won.  I can’t remember the score.  Rooster got to play, which was a pleasant surprise.  It’s been a couple of years since he played soccer, so he’s been working hard to make up for lost time.  Rooster used to play travel soccer as the goalie for his team.  He was amazing to watch…quick feet and courageous in the face of oncoming players determined to score.  He got burned out though and needed a break.

So now he’s back, and I’m really proud of him.  It was thrilling to see him back on the field.  He was nervous.  I could see it in the way he played, but he gave it his all, almost scoring a goal at the end of the game.  I know that he will improve as the season progresses, and his confidence will grow along with it.  That’s the best part about watching your children participate in activities.

On Friday, Soccer Chick had a game.  Her team was up by a couple of goals before the game got called because of bad weather.  I made the short drive home, but it seemed to take an eternity because the rain was coming down so hard!  I was exhausted when I got home.

The knitting is still happening whenever I can squeeze out a few minutes.  I’ve been working on the mini stockings for the troops.  My goal is to complete 20.  I’ve finished 12.  A friend of mine asked if she could stuff them, and I gladly accepted her offer.  I’m hoping to finish them this weekend or Monday.  I’ll take a group photo of them as soon as they are ready to be mailed off.

I also got a little something extra made up for my Cold Weather Hot Drink Swap partner.  I’m going to try to get it in the mail today.  I’ll post pictures AFTER she receives the package.  Wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise, right Fig?

I guess that’s about it for this morning.  I’ve got to get a few things done before layering up for my afternoon outside.  The temperature is supposed to drop a lot today, and the wind is going to make it seem colder.  Hello, Mr. Heater!  We’ll be sitting together at the game.

😀

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Soccer Chick Scores a Goal!

Posted on November 13, 2008 by auburnchick

What a rainy afternoon we had yesterday!  And of course, Soccer Chick had a game.  Murphy’s Law (or rather AuburnChick’s Luck).  Here’s what it looked like when we arrived at the fields:

I felt so bad for the girls, but it’s part of what you sign up for with this game.  Sometimes I wish that Soccer Chick had picked a different sport to participate in…table tennis, for instance.  You’re almost always inside and dry and warm with table tennis.  But, she picked soccer, so outside is where we stay…rain or shine…hot or cold.

Fortunately, the rain stopped before the game began, and I got to see this:

It was beautiful!  It reminded me of the double rainbow the whole family saw two years ago when we were on our way to the city where Soccer Chick had her  knee surgery.  That was the most incredible sight I’d ever seen, and the timing was perfect as we were all dreading what we were facing.  I love that God created the rainbow as a reminder that He loves us and remembers us in the midst of the storms of our lives.

Anyhow…back to my story…

The game began, and the opponent really did give a valiant effort.  It’s always interesting to watch games against local schools.  We know many of the players.  Such was the case last night as we watched a couple of girls in particular.  They are bright shining stars on their team.  One of them played soccer with Rockin’ Rooster.  Don’t tell anyone, but I’ve secretly determined that he will marry her.  She’s such a cutie.

Despite their best efforts, Soccer Chick’s team was too much for them, and we scored one goal after another.  Soccer Chick was hungry for her own goal.  She is a very unselfish player though, often passing the ball to the person who has the best shot.  But she got off a few shots of her own.  You could see how badly she wanted it.  Defenders do not get many opportunities to score.

Soccer Chick did, though, and boy was it a beauty!  She kicked a hard shot that I would have ducked from, and there was no way the keeper was going to stop it from going in.

I yelled so loudly and jumped up and down.  What a great feeling!  I was so happy for her!

The game continued.  The parents were watching from behind our team’s bench…unusual, but there was a covered shelter behind us, and we wanted to be able to take cover in case the rain made another appearance.

All of a sudden, I heard someone say, “Soccer Chick is hurt.”

Oh no!  This is my biggest fear when she’s out there playing.  After all she went through, emotionally and physically, with her torn ACL, I would be devastated if she was sidelined again.  I anxiously looked for her and finally spotted her sprinting off the field.

Well, at least I knew her knees were okay.

She announced, as she ran off the field, “I really have to go to the bathroom.”

Oh my goodness!  The relief I felt was overwhelming.  Everyone laughed hysterically.  It was the first time she’d ever done this.

However, she proceeded to stay in the bathroom…five minutes, ten minutes.  I went in to check on her, and she was sick.  Poor baby.  The game ended, and still no Soccer Chick.

Finally, about ten minutes after the last whistle, she hurried out of the bathroom, saying, “Mama, take me home now.”

She had a desperate look in her eyes.

Poor baby.  After scoring her goal, she couldn’t even enjoy it.

She’s still not quite better, but she did get up and go to school.  Fortunately, I’m subbing at her school, so if she needs anything, I’m right here.

It was an interesting night, to say the least.  At least she got her goal and validation from within and those around her that she still “has it.”

You go Baby.

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: | 2 Comments »

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