Don’t forget to sign me up for the NHL!!!

Tomorrow will be my son’s very last hockey game of his “house-league minor hockey career”. Personally, I hope he never gives it up and continues to play perhaps at university or pick up with his pals and maybe eventually join the beer leagues. We have had just as much fun, if not more, watching him play, grow and boy did we acquire a whole hockey family with us along the way.

He started out playing soccer at the tender age of three and a half. His first organized sport. I remember sizing him up against the other players on his team. Josh had an athletic-like build and was a strapping three and a half year old. Star player of the team I thought compared to the tiny team mates around him. Both my husband and I were ex-athletes and yes you could say “stars” in our own element. He must take after us I thought as I waited eagerly for the 1^st game of his promising sports career to begin. As the other tiny little boys ran around like bees after the ball, there was my son in the middle of the field picking dandelions with another spectacled boy and blowing the fluffy white wishes at us with glee. “Go after the ball Josh” I shouted, half shocked at my son and half annoyed at the other spectacled boy who I was sure had distracted him from the game. Needless to say, his soccer career didn’t last long thank goodness and we eventually moved onto what became his love, all our loves…. hockey.

He started off half walking and half skating, going the wrong way, falling down every time he took a shot, but boy did he ever try and hustle around that ice. We found it! His sport became our sport and his love became ours. One night as I tucked him into bed he said to me “Mom, don’t forget to sign me up for the NHL (National Hockey League)” …..if only, …a lofty dream for an average house-league hockey player who eventually became the star player in our eyes. NHL was far beyond our hopes. We just wanted a jersey that fit that year!!

Josh’s hockey career gave us many great times, awesome experiences, drama…oh my word the drama that resulted from the passion of the game, incredible amount of pain when one of his team-mates passed away tragically, lessons that will stay with us forever and most of all it gave us a wealth of fond memories, life-long friendships and a wonderful hockey family. A family that can undoubtedly be counted on THREE things at any time;

1.       A ride to and from the rink

2.       Advice on all things, hockey and life, even when you don’t ask for it

And ABOVE ALL

3.       A RIOT OF A TIME!!!

I remember Josh`s very first goal…I cried. I remember his first punch right smack on the face of a bully on the ice…I beamed with pride…. he was nominated Assistant Captain that year and I was sure the punch had lots to do with it. I remember well when he was nailed against the boards and suffered his first concussion…. I cringed. I will remember his grin on the ice and quick glance at the stands when he scored, which wasn`t that often for a defenseman. I will miss sitting in the cold arena cheering or yelling at the top of my lungs. I will miss the laughs, the tournaments, getting told off by the hotel security at those tournaments to keep it down and turn off the karaoke. I will miss the pub nights after the game. I will NOT miss going to the games a whole hour and a half ahead of time, so my husband could prepare the game sheet and get ready to co-coach and manage the team. I will miss very specially watching my #4 Left Defenseman hustling around the ice with the very best of people…. our hockey family, our forever friends.

Tomorrow is his very last game. The team secured an overtime win of a nail biter to move on to the Finals. We all needed a drink at the pub after to calm ourselves down! I don’t know if the team will end up winning the championship tomorrow. Josh’s team won Gold the very first year he played hockey and it would seem a fitting finish ending with Gold. I won’t lie it would be just GOLDEN to win!! In any event, I know what outcome I can always count on…. lots of fun and definitely another awesome memory! Go Spits!!!

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming - Dory

At 6 years old I wouldn’t say it was fun waking up at the wee hours of the morning while everyone else slept in. It was barely light out and too early even for the birds and the rooster. Yet I woke up, dragged myself out of bed, barely knew what I was eating, got dressed and headed off to the pool. Once there, I breathed in the early morning air, cool breeze and the delicious smell of chlorine. The pool was serene and blue. Untouched! I looked forward to being the first to plunge in. Contrary to popular belief, warm weather climate pool water was always cold in the morning! After practice it was a quick shower and off to school, eyes tearing from the chlorine I could barely see the blackboard and take down notes. I did that for 13 straight years. Oh yes and twice a day…. Only in the afternoon you weren’t waking up early. You just go straight from school to home for lunch and homework and then back again in the pool. Thirteen straight years of two a day that became three a day training sessions closer to international competitions.

Ask me if I have watched more than 5 episodes of Beverly Hills 90210. The answer would be no. I couldn’t fully participate in school yard convo of the latest gossip, tv shows or school friend hangouts. I was swimming. I think I surprised my principal I didn’t turn into a fish as she so anticipated. I was often excused from being late to school, leaving early from school because of swim practices and meets. And yes, I so looked forward to those swim meets. Excited to see like-minded friends, show off the new swim suit, butterflies in tummy awaiting my next race. The flurry and activity all ended in one big award ceremony and party afterwards where I would be pushed back into the pool along with my fellow friends, clothes and all because of our winnings.                                                                                                                 

It certainly was time to hang up my suit after 13 years. It was tiresome, my back was injured, and I wanted to enjoy the same privileges as every other nineteen year old. Looking back now however, I miss those days. Swimming took 19 tiresome years but left me with so much more. Here’s some of what I carry with me today;

·         Your parents deserve those medals and trophies as much as you do. For 13 years I did not know what it was like to sleep in. Well neither did my parents! My mom got up even earlier to make breakfast and make sure I was out the house in time for practice with my dad. Maybe this is the reason I didn’t sway my kids away from hockey and cheer. I don’t have it in me to wake up at 4:30am anymore. My parents however did. I owe the success of my entire swimming career to them. A thank you doesn’t seem enough!

·         Practices count but the race counts even more. It doesn’t matter how hard you practice or prepare yourself, what matters most is the race. Make sure you are prepared when it really counts. Not being ready will cost you second place.

·         It taught me to be effective and efficient. Juggling swimming with school, homework, school exams and even French classes outside of school taught me to make the most of each minute. I paid real close attention when the teacher spoke, worked ahead of schedule at home, did homework on the bleachers while waiting for training to start. I did what it took to get my work done. Efficiency and Effectiveness became my best friends.

·         It taught me dedication and determination. I was determined to be the best when I wasn’t picked to be on the school relay team when I was 8. I tirelessly dedicated all my efforts, so I would be the first one picked. It paid off. Dedication and determination became my next best friends.

·         I learned camaraderie and I learned to have fun. My competition became my worst enemy in the pool and became my best friend on land. We would not talk to each other just before the race but no matter what the outcome, we rejoiced. At times, we may have been disappointed at the result, but were genuinely happy for victor. We pushed, we motivated, and we encouraged each other at practice to give our best. Most importantly we had fun!

 

Swimming taught me a ton. Whether you want to swim or not, I encourage you to pick up a sport or an activity that challenges you, draws the best out of you, gives you back so much more than you expected and lets you have a blast doing it. For me that was swimming.