Offense/Defense

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to join an intramural soccer team for DU's School of International Studies. I'm a natural athlete and figured it would be good exercise. Little did I know the INTENSITY and skill of my team and league! After the first game, in which it was clearly established that attending soccer camp in 3rd and 4th grade does not make me a soccer player, I began to dread the weekly matches, only showing up to give the expert girls on our team a bit of a breather during the games and insisting on playing defense when I did play. "Don't give me the ball!" was my game day prayer.

Last week i showed up for our nightly match, which happened to be on my birthday. The WHOLE day had been magical: from a free Starbucks chai tea compliments of the barista, to meaningfully contributing to both of my class discussions for the first time this quarter (we're in week 7 now), and from oddly running randomly into EVERYONE I love on campus, to welcoming lifelong friend Mariah Rosdahl to Denver for her first time. The whole day had been magical right through Mariah's famous Pineapple Thai Curry dinner and special birthday pie, which I was uncomfortably feeling when I showed up to our match. The game went on as usual, with both teams scoring goals, and me popping in as defense every so often. With only a few minutes left in the game, and our team up by 1, I headed in, but rather than take my comfortable post as Defense, I was ordered to play Offense. Begrudgingly, I ran down the field praying that the ball would not be passed to me. With less than a minute left in the game, the ball WAS passed to me, and the rest is a blur. Apparently, I spun around a player from the opposite team and ever so casually kicked the ball between the goalie's legs into the net for my first GOAL, cinching our team's first WIN!! Happiness IS!

I ran into my team at the bar later that evening, and they were still in shock, discussing my goal of the night. What a great end to a great day! Thanks to all of you for the birthday wishes! There was an abundance of LOVIN.

Love,
HT