What a week!

Did I say what a week? What I really meant was month, or maybe even year. It is said that life is stranger than fiction. How true is that?

Started the week off going to work Monday morning. Lots and lots of changes there. I work for the state and it is a thankless job. I love it, but the public hasn't a clue. I work in a position that is supposed to be helping people. What I do is helpful, but it is strange. The people that you want to help the most are often the ones you can't help. It is easy to see how people become bitter. Both the workers and the public.

That night I was off to Union to watch my son play in the JV game. I was amazed at how the home team played and behaved. At least 6 personal fouls, that is just the fouls that were called. I think the refs tried, I guess they can't call a penalty on every play. The Union team plays dirty. Plain and simple. Late hits, an extra shove, anything they can do to injure or intimidate. And to think that this behavior is coming from the JV team of a program that is supposed to be one of the best in the state. Their team may win the most games, but they are far from the best. It is not necessary for them to play that way with the talent pool they have to choose from. And to think the players playing that night are some of those our Varsity team will face next year. What a nightmare. Not because of their talent. Because of their lack of decency and disregard for sportsmanship.

Our team had one player with a seriously injured finger. My understanding is the bone was sticking out. Not long after that, another one of our players had a neck injury. The game was stopped, parents called, 911 called. The player was taken away by ambulance. It was precautionary and thank goodness he is okay. Two plays later, my son was the one left lying on the field after the play was over. I stood there watching, like I always do, only this time he didn't get up on his own. They had to help him up and help him off the field. My heart sank and I was sick to my stomach. He was brought to the sidelines and he was screaming in pain. Crying. Trying to tell the Coaches and Doctors how much pain he was in. Hard to watch. The game was over by this time and I was allowed to take him home in my car. I was told with the swelling, etc. I could go home, ice it, give him something for pain and decide then what to do. I thank each of you who assisted with that whole episode.

Before my son was injured, when the other player was still on the field, waiting for the ambulance, something happened. I will never forget it. The boys were on "a knee" and my son stood up and called the team together. They gathered in a circle, kneeled, held hands and one of the boys prayed the Lord's Prayer. It brought tears to my eyes. These boys were not prompted to do this. They were raised to do this. How powerful is that? Note: Union outscored us. We had three injured players. But, I am here to tell you that we were the winners. Proud doesn't cover it.

A friend brought T a set of crutches and he went to school Tuesday morning. Our team doctor would be at practice and he would check T out and make a recommendation. After work, I went to the field, where they were still practicing to pick him up and talk to the doctor. I was told it was likely a Grade 2 Sprain and if I wished, I should have T's ankle x-rayed. Doc B had put it in a compression bandage and T was getting around fairly well. I had parked the car close to the entrance of the stadium. Where I parked was not a "parking spot", but it was not blocking anything nor did I believe it was an issue as I wouldn't be there long. T and I got in the car to go home and on the way I notice a note was left under the windshield wiper. We got home and before T got out of the car I got the note. The note read "This is not a parking slot BITCH!". I was stunned. T isn't a baby and I told him what the note said. He immediately says it better not have been someone he knows. I let him know I did not believe it to be prank of a HS student. Wow. Life has been a challenge lately and that was something I didn't see coming. Honestly, I did let it hurt my feelings. How I wish I hadn't. Anyone who is that petty deserves my pity, not my pain. (Easy to say now...) I still don't understand why it happened. It still makes me uncomfortable. I guess some people just aren't happy unless they are making someone else miserable.

Wednesday, I picked T up again from practice. By the way, I parked in the exact same place. Doc B and I talked and decided T should be seen by an ortho at EOOC. Doc B made a call for me and we got an appointment early Thursday morning. Then we were off to the house for the evening.

This morning I took T to the Ortho and we got the x-ray. T's tibia is cracked at the bottom and he has two complete ligament tears. The x-ray showed his ankle bones were spread apart as the ligaments were not there to keep them in place. Surgery is Tuesday. Now T is wearing a Tibia Walking Boot and using crutches to keep any pressure off of the ankle. When they do the surgery, they will insert one or two screws to hold the bones together while the ligaments heal. Whatever it takes for him to be okay.

Did I say what a week? I am sure there are many lessons in the last four days if I will look for them. Such as, my job is important and it does help people regardless of the red tape and attitudes. It is insanely busy, but I am and should be grateful to be employed and have health insurance. I should remember the feeling of pride when our boys kneeled and prayed to our Lord for their brother. And be grateful that they are of the heart that an "adult" didn't have to tell them to do it. They were moved to do it on their own. I wish to be grateful that the other two boys who were injured are okay, and that T will be okay too. It will just take time. It is a blessing to have a team doctor and to have the connections thru him to get an appointment quickly to get T's injury taken care of.

No, this week wasn't easy. This message isn't a pity party. I don't feel sorry for myself. I don't understand, but I am not wallowing in pity either. It was a hard week. But, writing about this has given me the opportunity to realize that it could have been different. It could have been harder.

By the way, one highlight of my week. It makes me smile to think of it now. My daughter called me so I could hear my granddaughter laugh and giggle. That four month old baby was cracking up! I asked her what K was laughing about and she says "she found her foot and she is sticking it in her mouth". Life is hard, but life is good.

Much love.