A friend of mine scolded me for dragging myself out to a football game on Thursday (I didn't mention to her I'd already done a game on Tuesday). And I was out there again on Sunday. Why? Well, my elder grandson's newly formed 7th grade Spirit Band (we used to call it Pep Band) played for the first time at the game on Tuesday and my elder granddaughter's 7th grade cheerleader squad was doing their game on Thursday (different schools) and my younger grandson's 5th grade team had their first playoff game on Sunday - he's a linebacker.
But that still doesn't answer why. As my friend pointed out, the kids would forgive me for missing their games if I was sick. They truly would. But I know something at this point in my life I didn't know when my own kids were young. I understand about "in the blink of an eye" and "it's the little moments" and "building memories".
If we hadn't been at Tuesday game, we couldn't have offered to bring him home so his dad could leave early to get our younger granddaughter to bed. And we would have missed this:
"That was so awesome. How did we sound, Nana? Did we sound okay?"
"You sounded great."
"Really? Thanks. And thanks for being there."
If we hadn't been at the Thursday game, we would have missed the opportunity to stay with her for the evening while my son and his wife went out, and I would have missed our "girl talk" at bedtime, about life and love and all those things that are important to a young woman just entering her teens.
If we hadn't been at Sunday's game we would have missed seeing him get his first two quarterback sacks and having him race over to me after the game, helmet in hand, all excited...
"Two sacks! I got two sacks. Did you see them, Nana?"
"Of course, I saw them. You played great. I'm proud of you."
"Thanks, Nana."
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| That's my boy - number 21, with his shoulder to the turf. |
My younger granddaughter - the only one who wasn't involved in a football game last week - has a choir concert this evening. I'm really behind on everything, tons of work to do. Guess where I'll be tonight.
So, what are the things you won't miss, and why?
Groaner of the Day: There was this guy and he had a girlfriend called Lorraine who was very pretty and he liked her a lot.
One day he went to work to find that a new girl had started. Her name was Clearly and she was absolutely gorgeous. He became quite besotted with her and after a while it became obvious that she was interested in him too.
But this guy was a loyal man and he wouldn't get involved with Clearly while he was still going out with Lorraine.
He decided that there was nothing for it but to break up with her and get it on with the new girl.
He planned several times to tell Lorraine but he couldn't bring himself to do it. One day they went for a walk along the river bank when Lorraine slipped and fell in to the river. The current carried her off and she drowned.
For a moment the guy was devastated. Then he ran off smiling and singing: "I can see Clearly now Lorraine has gone."
(oh that's so bad)
