Monday, September 29, 2014

SOCCER GRANDMA


When The World Cup was televised, I couldn't wait for it to end. It seemed to go on forever and a day. I had never been to a soccer game in my whole life. And admitted to anyone who would listen I didn't like soccer. The reason being  I grew up with baseball and football.  But my granddaughter plays soccer. So last month I was invited to one of her games. They were to play on Field One, which is in close proximity to the parking lot, at a local elementary school. So that way... I didn't have to walk too far, to attend. Because at my age, my legs are no longer capable of taking me to the places I want to go, if too much walking is involved. I brought my fold up burgundy chair and plopped myself down on the sidelines, where others were positioning themselves to watch. Both of my daughters were there, (a wonderful treat for me) ...  and they insisted on mothering me... ( a tad bit irritating). They told me to hold an umbrella to shield myself from the sun. I thought that sounded silly. But it just so happened, it was 90 degrees out there, even in the shade... and I felt like I was melting. According to my youngest daughter who lived in Phoenix, Arizona for a while, everybody there carries an umbrella to shade themselves. So she wanted me to do it. She was worried I might have heatstroke. I have to admit, when I tried it,  it took the edge off the bright sunshine and made the outdoor venue a little more tolerable. The game started and I settled into the rhythm of the kids footwork as they ran up and down the field. Some of them looked bedraggled, after a while, because of the heat. So I was happy to see the coaches keeping the children, hydrated.  I don't understand the complexities of the sport. And I sometimes thought... the parents cheering on the kids, were a little too focused on scoring and winning. But I enjoyed the overall game and took a ton of pictures of my granddaughter doing her thing out there on the soccer field. Unfortunately I can't share them with you here because my older daughter doesn't want any pictures of her family posted online. And I have to respect her wishes. Such a shame, though. I'm a proud grandma who opened her mind to something new, soccer.  And found out I liked it. IMAGINE that? Have you ever found out you actually liked something you thought you didn't?