Friday Nights for Randall
Friday's, who doesn't look forward to that magical day, well sometimes I do not, as that does not necessarily mean a day off for me. But for the sake of this entry, lets just pretend that every one every where marks the beginning of their weekend with Friday evening.
Kids have the luxury of two full days to get homework completed, parents have two full days to get everything accomplished they chose not to do during the week.
Friday, stress of a job or school is put on the back burner, it is time to laugh and feel free to enjoy our sometimes mundane lives. We can easily set back and relax the weekend away, or plan a much needed getaway, we can charge into a project, knowing we have adequate time, (or so we think) or we can procrastinate and wait for a rainy day. Either or, Fridays mark a simple celebration. The end of a work week.
From this Friday forth, for ten weeks, hopefully more, I will bask in my favorite past time, watching one of my favorite people, my youngest son, play the game of football.
At 7p.m. this past Friday evening, with our High School flag at half mast in honor of a fallen soldier from the area, some 700 spectators, all adorned in their alumni colors, from 3 area schools and my own, adorned a huge green oval to watch the combatants establish dominance to and fro.
Green and Gold, Crimson and white, Red and Black, and vivid purple. Team spirit is in abundance. A hush quiets the boisterous crowd, as the National anthem is sang by our school choir, (they did a great job). 12 zebra officials select challengers and side of the field. two football games being played out at the same time, a fans delight, an announcers curse.
Each team exchanges sides, fairly equal in competition, no winners, no losers, in fact score is not even kept, after all this is just a practice. A dress rehearsal for when the serious business of chasing a state title looms on the horizon next week.
Often I have equated football to life, the struggle to move forward, the challenge of being humble in victory and gracious in defeat. Yes for me football has been a big part of my life. 3 boys all playing, all succeeding, the last of the boys entering his final year, (unless college calls). Bittersweet in many ways, I truly will miss the talk and the spectacle.
How all three have grown from this, how I have grown as a parent.
His mother was there, she looked nice, not dressed in school colors, I somehow feel she thinks she is above being loyal to anything, I'm glad she came, or his sake. Also I am humble and gracious at the same moment.
My parents are there, Mom not moving real well, Dad, blood pressure escallating from excitement. They set proudly in the stands, watching as their last grandson gives 100% effort. Dads a fan, he is a coach of life and he knows football too. Mom is more a fan than when I played, I think back then she went only in protection mode. Now she visits and watches. and actually she has learned a lot about the sport.
so in 10 weeks I will pile on over 2000 miles. expend roughly 60hrs of vacation time, eat approximately 15 hotdogs, a cple plates of nachos, about 2 gallons of Dr.Pepper and 5 gallons of water. I will yell, I will tense up, I will be anxious but mostly i will be proud. I will console, I will critique, but mostly I will be proud.
Give em hell son, never be the hittee always be the hitter, play with vigor and intensity. Play with heart and soul, its just a game, but it so paralles life.
Love ya
Dad
Kids have the luxury of two full days to get homework completed, parents have two full days to get everything accomplished they chose not to do during the week.
Friday, stress of a job or school is put on the back burner, it is time to laugh and feel free to enjoy our sometimes mundane lives. We can easily set back and relax the weekend away, or plan a much needed getaway, we can charge into a project, knowing we have adequate time, (or so we think) or we can procrastinate and wait for a rainy day. Either or, Fridays mark a simple celebration. The end of a work week.
From this Friday forth, for ten weeks, hopefully more, I will bask in my favorite past time, watching one of my favorite people, my youngest son, play the game of football.
At 7p.m. this past Friday evening, with our High School flag at half mast in honor of a fallen soldier from the area, some 700 spectators, all adorned in their alumni colors, from 3 area schools and my own, adorned a huge green oval to watch the combatants establish dominance to and fro.
Green and Gold, Crimson and white, Red and Black, and vivid purple. Team spirit is in abundance. A hush quiets the boisterous crowd, as the National anthem is sang by our school choir, (they did a great job). 12 zebra officials select challengers and side of the field. two football games being played out at the same time, a fans delight, an announcers curse.
Each team exchanges sides, fairly equal in competition, no winners, no losers, in fact score is not even kept, after all this is just a practice. A dress rehearsal for when the serious business of chasing a state title looms on the horizon next week.
Often I have equated football to life, the struggle to move forward, the challenge of being humble in victory and gracious in defeat. Yes for me football has been a big part of my life. 3 boys all playing, all succeeding, the last of the boys entering his final year, (unless college calls). Bittersweet in many ways, I truly will miss the talk and the spectacle.
How all three have grown from this, how I have grown as a parent.
His mother was there, she looked nice, not dressed in school colors, I somehow feel she thinks she is above being loyal to anything, I'm glad she came, or his sake. Also I am humble and gracious at the same moment.
My parents are there, Mom not moving real well, Dad, blood pressure escallating from excitement. They set proudly in the stands, watching as their last grandson gives 100% effort. Dads a fan, he is a coach of life and he knows football too. Mom is more a fan than when I played, I think back then she went only in protection mode. Now she visits and watches. and actually she has learned a lot about the sport.
so in 10 weeks I will pile on over 2000 miles. expend roughly 60hrs of vacation time, eat approximately 15 hotdogs, a cple plates of nachos, about 2 gallons of Dr.Pepper and 5 gallons of water. I will yell, I will tense up, I will be anxious but mostly i will be proud. I will console, I will critique, but mostly I will be proud.
Give em hell son, never be the hittee always be the hitter, play with vigor and intensity. Play with heart and soul, its just a game, but it so paralles life.
Love ya
Dad
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