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I Meet My Team and Patti Comes Home


Yup, I am totally crazy! Ever since it has been announced that I am going to be the soccer coach, people have asked me if I am insane. That, and if I know anything about soccer. The answer to both is YES. Well, I have more insanity than knowledge about soccer…. But, I am up for the challenge.

I began Friday announcing to my homeroom about my new endeavor. Of course, I invited the boys in my room to join in the fun. “No, I don’t play soccer, Mrs.” (Someday, I will get them using my entire name.)  I encouraged them to come to the meeting. Wouldn’t you know, several of them did! They wanted to play because of me!! Some of them have never played before. I have never coached. How can we go wrong? Good thing I have my 7th grade pros on the team! They are going to run the team. I am going to stand around with a whistle in my mouth looking official.

When doing something new, it is important to ask for help. Therefore, I have been asking several people for guidance as I become known as ‘Coach.’ (I hope I remember to answer to that when I hear it.) I have reached out to many experts in the field from Patti’s previous coaches to my nephew going to a school with a focus on soccer to my son who played in high school to a total stranger on the street. After they all get over their initial shock or outright laughter, I get advice or, in some cases, more questions. How old? What do you know about the game? Are you out of your mind? I answer the same each time: 7th and 8th grade boys; what I saw when watching and texting when my kids played; and YES! Their advice? Ummm….have them touch the ball a lot. Make them run. Do drills. I would say, come Monday, I am ready to coach my team! No worries. My players from Mexico tell me they are every good and can run the team. I can do my part and blow the whistle.

Loneliness is a funny thing. I have been here a week and haven’t really experienced any of it. Friday night was a different story. I talked to a friend online for a while. It was early when our conversation was over. The house was quiet. Too quiet. I kept myself busy by cleaning. (Yup, I was pretty lonely.) I watched a couple of episodes of Psych on my laptop. Finally, I went to be earlier than I had all week long only to wake up at 6:30am on a Saturday! It was all good though because today was the day.

It was Patti time in the afternoon! I won’t bore you with the details of the drive. Just know that it was long. About eight hours of driving in all. (I was excited when I saw my gas mileage hit 21.2!) I finally reached Patti.

“This is an amazing car oh my God where did you get it it has so many fancy things did you know that the seat has a seat warmer this is so cool how do you change the clock can I change the clock what time is it cool the back seat has mirrors too this is such a fancy car it’s like a limosine I can’t believe I get to drive in it are you going to keep it let’s keep it forever okay when are we going to get home where is it how much further can I put the seat back where is the big hat how many rooms does the house have can I get a pet”

Talk about excited! She didn’t stop talking the entire way home. Upon arriving, she did the same thing in the house. It is so good to have my little girl back. I listened to her chatter and excitement and knew my days of quiet loneliness were over.

Comments

  1. James AAugust 29, 2010 at 12:46 PM

    Mandie, pray for the other half of the show! Pat, Sean and I traveled to Nashua, NH to greet Tony & Sana to the East. We also took Sana's best friend from Orland, Courtney Grey. They had an absolute party. Sat. noon found us headed home to mid-coast Maine with Sana. She will only be here for a couple of days then head back to NH with Tony when Pat heads for Mass. to care for her Sister-in-law. Tony will be looking for a place to live in the mean time. Hope they can both settle this week. Their is the last chapter to be written in getting the Victors all settled. It was good to see Tony happy to be back in the North East.

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