Matching Tracksuits

fun in fours

volleyball

Consolation

Thursday 15 July 2021

When Papa was in his late thirties or early forties (I can’t really remember), we had a family membership at the local YMCA, and he liked to play basketball. He didn’t like playing with men his age — too slow. He played with the twenty- and twenty-one-year-olds. It was hard and aggressive, and while I can’t really remember how good Papa was at basketball, I do remember how tenacious he was, how he never gave up.

One time he was breaking for the basket, forcing his way through a couple of defenders, when he leaped, shot, landed on his ankle at an angle, and fell in agony with a snap that everyone heard.

As Papa lay there on the floor, rolling about in agony, one of the other players leaned into the group huddled about him and said, “If it’s any consolation to you, sir, you made the basket.”

Tonight, L made a block that won the point but resulted in an ankle injury. A young lady on her team told her, “But L, you won the point.”

Myrtle Beach 3

Sunday 27 June 2021

Tuesday

Tuesday 15 June 2021

The morning — I am the taxi driver. E has to go to scout camp. L has to go to volleyball conditioning. Then L has to come home to get ready for orientation. (She got the job.) Then she has to go to that orientation. Driving, driving, driving.

After lunch, I head out and do some weeding.

I’ve no idea how many sweet gum saplings I’ve pulled up this year. I’d guess I’m nearing 300 or so. They’re everywhere. All of the sweet gum trees we have are in backyard, in the corner, where no one really cares about them. For whatever reason, the seed pods from them result in very few saplings. However, the pods from our neighbors’ trees — they’re particularly virulent, I suppose.

In the evening, it’s back to taxi service. L is participating in a summer league. In a city that’s about 40 minutes away from us when we leave for said league because the games start at six. Which means we’re driving in rush hour traffic. Which means the 20-mile trip can take up to 40 minutes…

Jacksonville: The Tournament

Sunday 06 June 2021

It was just a one-day tournament today, and it was a tough one for the girls: the heat combined with the wind off the ocean and its effect on the ball teamed up against them, making the girls feel it was one team against three.

It was tough, but I think, as I always suggest, that losing can be as important as winning -- if it builds character.

Jacksonville Arrival

Saturday 05 June 2021

K and the kids headed to Jacksonville today for a beach volleyball tournament in which L will be playing tomorrow. They arrived, checked in, and headed straight to the beach.

Then had ice cream for dinner. Sounds like vacation...

Tournament Weekend

Sunday 02 May 2021

Both the kids had tournaments this weekend. The Girl's tournament was outside Atlanta, and it was her first time in competitive sand volleyball.

"How'd it go?" I asked.

"I got sand in my mouth," was the first impression.

The Boy's tournament was local. They made it to the semifinals then lost.

"We should have won" was the sentiment. How to get him to accept "win some, lose some" and still have the fire in the belly?

Easter 2021

Sunday 04 April 2021

Regionals 2021 Day 2

Saturday 03 April 2021

The Girl's team today had a rough time of it. During their first game, they were up one set 11-4, but they just couldn't put it away. In the second game, they were up 24-19 and ended up losing it 26-28. That means they had four set points and couldn't convert. That frustrated L to no end. They won the final game in straight sets, but it was by far the weakest team we'd seen in a long time. Still, a win is a win.

In the break between game one and two, I walked down the street to see where Papa's parents used to live. I know Papa lived in a couple of houses in the area growing up, but the only house I have any connection to -- any memory of -- is the small now-yellow house on Izard Street.

Down the street stands an abandoned building that I seem to remember as a store that my cousins and I used to visit to buy a Three Muskateers candy bar and a Mountain Dew.

Visiting Coach

Tuesday 23 March 2021

The girls went to watch their coach’s other team play — a college men’s team.

“They jump so high!” was the common comment. “And the net is higher!”

At one point, they were discussing the other team with coach M. “I liked number 10,” one girl said.

“Really?” coach asked incredulously. “He was terrible.”

“I’m talking about looks, coach,” she clarified.

“I was not part of the conversation,” the Girl clarified when I related it to K.

(I also didn’t take the pictures…)

 

Games

Saturday 20 March 2021

The Boy had two soccer games today. His team won them both, but the second game was a real bruiser. The kids on the other team were much more aggressive than any other kids we’ve encountered. Fouls don’t occur in eight-year-old soccer, but these kids fouled. They pushed and shoved, getting very physical in almost all aspects of the game. Still, our boys managed to pull out a 3-1 win.

E didn’t play for most of the game, though. He went in for about the last three minutes of the second half. My understanding was that the coach let the bench decide: leave the kids in who were doing well or get subbed in. They decided to let the kids who were already doing so well continue doing so.

The Girl is with K outside of Atlanta for a volleyball tournament. Their team won the first two matches they played but lost the final match. They took one set, though, so that’s always some little bit of compensation.

Finally, the Boy played a little guitar tonight. He’s decided it’s time to get serious about his playing, so I printed him out a simple chord chart, and off we went.