I set my alarm for 830 this morning, because I was going to go over to Mari's to scrapbook for a little while. Luis wanted to get up at 830 as well, because he had a full day of painting ahead of him. YES, he's STILL painting; and probably will be for another week or so. Anyway, I told Luis that it was time to get up; but as is usual; he didn't wake up the first time I told him. I had gotten out of bed, and again told him that it was time to get up; but he asked me to come back to the bed; because he had to tell me something.
(For the purpose of this story, you need to know that Christina is our hairdresser and she just recently closed the shop that she had with her mom who is also a hairdresser.)
I climbed back into bed, and Luis said "I just had the most real dream." He went on to tell me that we were in Sedona, walking down the street and we saw Christina's mom, and she had opened a Barber shop with her husband. We went in to say hello, and I asked Luis if he wanted to get a haircut; and he did. Luis said that Christina's dad cut his hair, and he'd done done a good job. Luis asked me if I wanted to get a haircut; and I said yes. I got my haircut, and we left the shop; and as we were walking down the street, Luis said "I'm so sorry Pooh, (because that's what he calls me) but your haircut is terrible." I said "what do you mean?" And Luis went on to say "You didn't tell the guy what to do to your hair, and so he gave you a haircut like mine." I said "what do you mean? Don't I have my wedge in the back?" And he said "No, it's flat and short in the back; just like mine." I said "what about my curls?" And Luis shook his head no. I asked how this could be possible; and said that I needed to go to the restroom so that I could look in the mirror (because apparently there wasn't one in the barber shop;) but Luis begged me not to. I insisted, and when I came back from the restroom, I was almost in tears. Luis tried to reassure me, by telling me that my hair grows quickly, and in a couple of weeks it should look much better. He said that we walked by an OPC (time share wrangler; in case you're unfamiliar with the acronym) and when he tried to start his spiel; I told him, "Please, I don't want any tickets, I don't want anything for free, I don't want to talk;" and we walked away. Luis said that it was at this point that he heard me calling his name; and he woke up, so incredibly relieved to see that I still had my hair and that it had all been a dream.
I have to tell you; Luis is not typically a good storyteller, and he knows this; but the way that he described this dream; I was laughing hysterically. His facial expressions were priceless; and his description of his dream was delightful; even though it wasn't a good dream by any means. Luis was so happy to wake up to me and my hair as it was; which is fantastic because I think he's been mourning the loss of my longer hair for years. Maybe THAT'S what this dream meant. Perhaps he's still unhappy that my hair is short and the extremeness of the cut in the dream, symbolizes how drastic my present haircut is compared to my longer hair. And then again; sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Only Luis knows for sure.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING
Today I witnessed the most incredible soccer game EVER!! And for those of you who regularly read "The Bumpy Ride," you might be asking yourself, how many different kinds of soccer stories can she write; but trust me when I tell you, that this one is worth the read.
I'm starting to find trends in our game days at soccer. For instance, last week Lyndzi had the first game of the day and her team seemed a little off. Then we went to Nicky's game, and although they won; his team seemed off as well. Fast forward to today, and we were on the field by 7:20 to set up our goal and warm up for Kelsie's 8am game. By 8 the opposing team only had four players, and their coach was no where to be found. Some of our dads were kind enough to set up the goal for the other team, but by a few minutes after 8, it seemed unlikely that our game would take place. The ref told me that the team had until 10 minutes after 8, to get a minimum of four players and a goalie on the field, or they'd have to forfeit. One of the moms from their team stepped up to try and coach the four kids; and although Luis could have played seven kids, like a regular game; he did the right thing and played four as well.
By 820 or so, the other coach showed up with his son; so we were able to play 5 on 5, and the Torpedos won 8 to 1.
Both Nicky and Lyndzi were supposed to have 930 games, so I asked Luis if he wanted to go to Lyndzi's game first, and I'd go to Nicky's; because I had a feeling that if Luis went to Nicky's game first; come half time, Luis wouldn't want to leave Nicky's game. Now here's the symmetry part... Nicky's team only had five players today; and the other team had 14. This has never happened before. Nicky's team had to forfeit because they needed to have a minimum of seven players in order to "technically" have a game. Nicky's coaches decided to play the game anyway, and told the opposing coach that he could play as many players as he liked; instead of just playing five, like us. The other coach took them up on their offer, and played 11 players on the field, against our five.
I was sitting with (SMF) David, and our mouths just dropped. Neither of us could believe that the opposing team was going to play so many players; and yet they did. Within the first couple of minutes, the opposing team scored; and very shortly thereafter; so did Nicky. And after Nicky scored; so did our goalie. That's right, I said SO DID OUR GOALIE. Our goalie got a hold of the ball, and ran the field and scored; not once, but three times by half time.
The coach of the opposing team was going wild. He loudly advised his players that there were two of them to cover each one of our players; but you never would have known it. David and I kept remarking how absolutely, unbelievable this game was; and I said "I can't leave at half time;" even though I knew that I had to.
When Luis arrived at half time, I apprised him of the situation and let him know that we were winning 4-1. I went off to Lyndzi's game, which her team won; and then rushed back to Nicky's.
There were a few minutes left in the game when I arrived, and the score was 5 to 3; with Little United still winning. Luis told me that Nicky had scored two more goals, but one didn't count because he had been off sides. Little United was exhausted, but they battled on; and when the whistle blew, they had won the game that they had to forfeit.
Oh my God, oh my God, OH MY GOD! This was absolutely one of the best things that I had ever seen in my life; and I'm not just talking soccer. I have so enjoyed watching Little United play all season long. They are truly poetry in motion. The coaches are the most knowledgeable, and skilled that I have ever encountered and I know that Luis is not insulted by that statement. Nicky has made so much progress as a player with this team, and their drive and spirit are just spectacular.
We only have one game left before heading to our end of season tournament, and I for one am going to miss watching Little United in action.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING
If anyone would have told me that what started out as a fun and innocent evening would turn into one of the most challenging nights of my life; I wouldn't have believed them.
Tonight our school held an event at Great Skate; and because Nicky is on student council, he needed to attend. As none of my kids had ever skated before, nor showed any interest in skating; I told them that they could use their admission price to buy tokens rather than rent skates; because that's what my friend Jen; (who's one of the student council advisors,) had told me.
As soon as we entered the building, each of my kids saw friends from school. They went to go play games; and I sat with Jen. Being at the roller rink brought back a lot of memories for me; as back in the day, I was a big (say it with me) "HUGE," fan of disco roller skating. All of a sudden the lights were turned down, and there were disco lights galore; and a remix of "ring my bell" blaring over the sound system. At one point they played Debbie Deb's "When I hear music," and I was transported back to Studio 59 for a midnight roller skating session.
It didn't take very long for my kids to use up most of their tokens; so I anticipated an early exit. But then all of a sudden, Lyndzi looked like she was about to cry; and I've told you many times before; Lyndzi isn't really a crier. I asked Lyndzi what was wrong, and she said "nothing;" but I know her better than that; and the expression on her face, told me that there was definitely something bothering her. After several minutes of prodding; Lyndzi said "roller skating looks fun." I said "it is." And then she said that she wanted to try skating. I asked if she'd be willing to spend her own money to do so, since I'd already paid for them to get in; and after thinking about it for a minute or two; she said that she would pay; and Nicky and Kelsie agreed as well.
I'm not quite sure how I went from no one wanting to skate, to everyone wanting to skate; but that's exactly what happened. All three kids took out their money and went to get skates, but they came back cash in hand, because the person at the skate rental told them that they didn't have to pay for skates since they paid to get in. I told them that they did have to pay, because they had gotten tokens rather than skates, for their entrants fee; and I went to the office and paid the additional $5 per child.
Nicky and Lyndzi got their skates on. Kelsie had to wait for Lyndzi to finish so that she could borrow her socks; as she hadn't worn any. Nicky looked a little shaky, and I accompanied him across the carpet until he got on the rink; and he actually made it around the skating floor on the first attempt. I then tried to help Lyndzi; but she proved to be a lot more challenging. Lyndzi could barely stand up on the skates, and I found that I had to hold onto her so tightly to keep her from falling, that I was afraid that I was going to break her arm. Lyndzi tried to remain upright, but was having a very tough time.
I was watching Lyndzi like a hawk, and I noticed a dad that was in shoes, not skates; and he was assisting his son, out on the rink; so I decided to do the same. This may not have been my brightest idea, because I was wearing flip flops as usual; and my toes were not prepared or protected for what happened next.
I tried several different approaches to helping Lyndzi, and after a few minutes; the DJ announced that parents without skates, who were trying to help kids, had to go in the center of the rink. Lyndzi and I made it there successfully, and although Lyndzi fell numerous times; and smashed my toes more times than I could count; I thought that she had made some progress. We got off of the rink as the DJ turned the lights down lower, and advised that for this song you needed to have something that was glow in the dark, in order to participate. This gave us a reprieve. Lyndzi decided to take a break and lend Kelsie her socks. Kelsie had been waiting very patiently; and as I tried to help her skate across the carpet; I was hopeful that she would be the one that skating would be easier for; but alas I was wrong.
I helped Kelsie from the carpet to the rink, but cutting across the floor to get to the center, was almost impossible. I managed to get Kelsie to the middle of the rink with the skate guards assistance; but once we arrived there, Kelsie was frustrated. I tired not to make a big deal about getting kicked, and rolled over; but I failed miserably; because after the umteenth time; I blew. I didn't yell at Kelsie, but I definitely lost my patience. I was almost in tears because my legs and feet were hurting so badly; but Kelsie WAS in tears; and that just made me feel worse. Kelsie felt responsible for hurting me and she desperately wanted to get off of the skating floor; but the crowd was bigger and moving faster, and it was even more difficult than getting on. As Kelsie and I tried our best to get across the floor; I remember thinking to myself, "I hate this; I absolutely hate this." By the time we got off the skating floor; Kelsie was in full blown hysterics; and Lyndzi came running over and began to wail as well. Kelsie was sobbing and implored me to let her sit down right then and there so that she could get the skates off; but I told her that I would get her back to our table. I felt awful! It seemed to me, that I had failed my children in the worst kind of way. They deserved so much better than me tonight; and this thought hurt me more than any injury that I'd endured.
I begged the girls to stop crying and I did my best to assure them that they had done NOTHING wrong. I told them that I was so proud of them for attempting to skate, and for spending their own money to do so. I apologized for losing my patience, and for getting frustrated; and they excused it all. But I was still miserable. To know that I had been the cause of my children's pain; I felt ashamed. I wished that I could have handled the situation better; but I was exasperated. I was afraid that the kids were going to fall and get hurt. I was fearful that I was going to break their arms, with as tight as I had to hold onto them to keep them from falling; and I was in pain from my injuries.
It is true that I am my worst critic; and that I don't cut myself any slack; however, I am the first one to tell you when one of my kids does something remarkable; and I''ve been known to give myself a pat on the back as well; so being the Queen of FAIRNESS, I also have to tell you, when I have completely missed the mark.
As soon as we left the rink; I held my kids close and apologized profusely. They then started to cry and apologized as well. I begged them to believe that they had nothing to apologize for; and they tried to convince me of the same. Oh if ever it was possible to have a Do Over; tonight would be the night that I'd want to re-do. I don't know exactly what I would do differently; but whatever it is, it would be done in away that my children didn't feel guilty for wanting to try.
Oh how I wish tonight never happened. If only life were like a Disney movie, and I had a fairy Godmother who could wave a magic wand and make tonight go away. It's not that I have to be perfect; I just have to be better. Better than what I was; because they so deserve it.
I told the kids that I was so happy that they had given roller skating a try; and that if they had any interest in trying again; they could. I can only pray that this evening didn't make them afraid to try new things because without trying, you only insure that you fail.
Oh this one's gonna haunt me for a while; but hopefully a good dose of snuggling will make it somewhat better for everyone.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING
