Skip to main content

SkeeBall Anyone?



Last night Bill and I had a great time watching the Auburn Tigers move to Elite 8 status in the March Madness contest.  While watching the Auburn players effortlessly shoot  3 pointers I was reminded of years of playing SkeeBall at Rehoboth Beach, DE.  As a child, during my college days, in our dating life and as a Mom, I have always been the family reigning SkeeBall champion.  I would stand at the SkeeBall throw line and effortlessly sink one winner in after another.  Like the Tigers, the joy and elation were obvious.  Each 50 point shot gave me more inspiration and more confidence. Winning at sports games and routinely beating my brothers, Bill and my sons helped to define who I am.  I have always been an athletic person who loves a good challenge both on and off the court.

Last night, the Tar Heels were outplayed by the Tigers but in the defining moment when the high scoring Auburn player Okeke was severely injured the Tar Heels reminded us what playing sports is all about.  Each Tar Heels players took a moment to console Okeke.  They reminded us that playing sports teaches leadership skills, teamwork, communication skills and builds strong relationships.

All my SkeeBall opponents, some worthy, some not, hold a special place in my heart.  They each have taught me a thing or two about myself.  I learned each and every time that winning is wonderful but friendship is far more important.







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cross the Finish!

I made it.   I crossed the finish line.   I had hoped I would but always left myself the “out” if I needed. Early in the Slice of Life daily blog challenge one of my sons asked what I planned to do after the challenge was over.   Would I continue to blog? Ever since he asked that question, I have been asking myself the same.   While I was writing my blog I frequently asked myself about my “why” and my “what”.   What was the one thing from my day that was noteworthy?   Why did I feel so strongly about one emotion over another?   Why did I accept the challenge?   What was I hoping to accomplish?   Like all other races or events that I have trained for, the circling in my mind at times became overwhelming.   In my unclear moments, my why became the understanding that life is a journey worth noting and sharing. I accepted the challenge to blog daily for the same reasons I have accepted other challenges in my life.   I wanted to see if I could.   I wanted to see what I would lea
Post a Comment
Read more

Read to Them

One of the quotes that I often think about is Emily Buchwald’s “ Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” Teaching reading is very difficult and reading to a child that has never been read to makes the job seem impossible.   Today it made me think about what made me a reader. As a child, my mother, who taught reading for years, read to my brothers and I  every Box Car Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner.   I do not remember the stories exactly but I remember loving the stories and cherishing our special time together.   Later in life, my father and I did a book study for religious education on the book Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Harnard.   Again, I do not remember much about the book but I remember the time we spent together and the close bond that I felt.    Today I decided to look at a review of Harnard’s book.   The review states that over 2 million copies were sold.   “It is a timeless story of God’s children yearning to new heights of love
1 comment
Read more

Alma

Today I read a charming children’s book written and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal called Alma and How She Got Her Name. It is a 2019 Caldecott Honor Book.   It is a sweet story about how Alma doesn’t like her name because it is too long.   Her name, to be exact is Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela.   Six names!   Six very long names she tells her father.   As her father tells her the story behind each of her names she realizes that her name is perfect for her.   She learns that her special name will one day provide her with the opportunity to share her story with the world. This story made me think about how as a child I too did not like my name.   My name was different, there was never anyone else with my name and at times I wished for a more traditional name.   So tonight I decided to call my parents, both of whom are now in their 80’s and ask about my name.  I had heard stories about why the named me but honestly, I never asked. Today I was lucky enough for them
2 comments
Read more