Ten.Two Thousand, Three Hundred & Sixty-One
Day three.
We sit in the chairs looking out into the little valley below, rain falling steadily from above. I feel much calmer today.
“What did the janitor say when he jumped out of the closet?”
Two things: it was Friday the 13th, and we didn’t scream.
He says that he can hear us from the locker room, and that’s a good thing.
We tell him two jokes and he doesn’t laugh. He’s a tough one to crack.
Anything over this is really just the gravy on top. We’re only a third of the way through, so I know that there is more to come.
When you root for the opps just because you dislike the other team so much.
The boys get another 1st place trophy and stay undefeated. This will be a fun season to watch.
Hot honey pepperoni pizza while scouting in the little chair in front of the fireplace. I need one more day to do just only this.
Ten.Two Thousand, Three Hundred & Sixty
One bite at a time.
I know I’ll feel better if I do than if I don’t.
Gratitudes for another day to be in this house while the rain falls heavy. The way the pond ripples from the poke of the rain. The way the leaves surrender to the weight of each drop.
“The best thing you can do is master the chaos in you. You are not thrown into the fire; you are the fire.”
You are the fire.
Feet in front of the fire. Too many emails.
It’s those jeans tucked into the boots and the phony smile.
Where is the disconnect?
He’s right. Gotta change it up. Trust my gut. I know what to do.
Wash it all away with the rain.
Ten.Two Thousand, Three Hundred & Fifty-Nine
A few extra minutes.
A thin white string of fog woven between the trees.
The sense of peace brought on by the rain and the darkness. For every up, a down. For every down, an up.
Clean.
I manage to get dinner into the Instapot before I have to leave, which feels like a major feat compared to the last few weeks.
I ask him if he’s joking or being serious. I’m just not used to hearing this kind of compliment from a teacher for them.
But it doesn’t feel like we’re winning.
If we could take the energy of one and combine it with the skill of the other…
A double-cheeseburger with grilled onions, add ketchup and mustard. Yes, keep the secret sauce, too.
Yes. One day, I’ll sleep again.
Ten.Two Thousand, Three Hundred & Fifty-Eight
A Wednesday that feels like it should be a Friday.
I sit down at the table and start to think about where we were at the end of last season and what we’ve already done. Do they believe me now? I believe it.
I take my seat at the back again. I know it’s a bad look, but the seats are just so close—to close.
Daydreams of what could be next.
Not the kind of numbers you want the day before, but we press on.
Picture day. We agree that time goes by so fast. Faster and faster every year.
A good story.
The sound of rain on the rooftop.
He tells me that he’s happy that I’m so excited about cleaning my home and sitting in front of my fireplace.
Ready.
Ten.Two Thousand, Three Hundred & Fifty-Seven
Late start but I manage to get in a good session to steady myself for the day.
I don’t think red falls in the parameters of the dress code, but it’s game day so I wear the red blazer anyway.
It’s always so cold in this basement. A meeting room without windows is soul-sucking.
I think everyone just wanted to eat lunch.
Butterflies. The first time I’ve had butterflies so far this season. I take a few deep breaths and drink some water.
“I feel a sweep,” I say. “Me too. But I always think I’m going to win,” he says. I turn to look at him. “My husband always says that every night, despite the length of our losing streak, I always said that we could win. You can always win.” “Even when I lose, I win.” I nod my head in agreement—lucky, lucky us.
i see that we’re up by 10 points and take a time out to tell everyone to relax, slow the pace down.
The last time we beat them was 2012.
“And we did it with only seven girls,” I say to her. “It’s the right seven.” I agree.
I tell him that I think the secret is the screaming.