I Heart Track Meets

You know, the difference between track meets and ball games is that a track meet is more like an event. It's priceless to see a kid who you had to talk into doing an event, because they had no confidence, experience success. Priceless. There's a feeling of relaxed camaraderie you don't get when you're having to deal with playing time and defending the other team.

That first sentence reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw Spring Break in Idaho:

What's the difference between rodeo and football, baseball, and basketball? You only need one ball to play the other sports.

Yee haw!

Winning the Parent Lottery

I've been working with kids now for close to 30 years now. That's hard to believe and even harder to admit. So I've had a chance to see hundreds if not thousands of parents over the years. Some parents I've admired tremendously, and some have been total pieces of shit who should have never had kids. Most have been somewhere in between the two.

It's led me to be grateful for the two who brought me into the world. Now Mom and Dad are far from perfect, as evidenced by the fact that they are no longer together. But I've been blessed with a mom who has a great sense of humor and who loves her kids and grandkids completely and unconditionally. And I have a dad who will do anything to help those he loves, which is a pretty exclusive list to be on.

I've really been struck by this the last two weekends.

Pondering Ponderosas

So I was kicking around in the Tumor Tube for the last time yesterday, on this here lake, and I started thinkin', see. What is it about Ponderosa Pines that makes them so cool? Is it the bark? The long needles? The pine-fresh scent? The shade they give in the heat of summer? I'm not sure, but I never get tired of looking at them or being around them.

For The Joy Of It

Friday practice was great. The rain steadily getting stronger until we were down to half-a-dozen kids out on the track. Everyone else had gone for the locker room. A boys relay team was working on their hand-offs, with another boy helping them out, and we were down to one girl who had been improving her hurdling. All at once they began sprinting down the back-stretch in a spontaneous dash unencumbered by peer pressure, self-consciousness, or my voice. Just a wide-grinned race for the fun of it. And I got to see it all, my silent grin just as big as theirs.

These are the moments that make putting up with the idiocy of a government job worth it. There are still these somewhat "pure" moments when the kids are kids and enjoying themselves in a healthy, happy, in-the-moment way. We need more of 'em, but the administrators and politicians can't stand what they can't control.

Back On Track

Yes, folks, another track season is upon us. Have had over 70 sign up, with more than 60 showing up most days. Some of the most fun kids at school with us this year. Going from coaching throws to coaching sprints, hurdles, and high jump will be quite the challenge. Been lucky with the weather, lately. Can hardly wait 'til the meets begin, to see what we really have.