Indian Summer

Autumn is my favorite time of year

For 14 years I sat in lawn chairs next to soccer fields...

Or I stood on the sideline making strange body movements---

swaying one way or the other as if I could somehow will

that black and white ball in the direction of the goal...

I really don't understand a thing about the game...

I don't even know what position my son played.

But when that last high school game was played 2 years ago and

I took off my "Soccer Mom" socks with little embroidered balls

I cried.

I miss those crisp fall days...

the smell of sweaty boys filling my van to & from games,

contorting my body in odd ways next to the field.

Last Saturday there was an alumni game...

Once again I watched those gold soccer cleats hit the ground

and that wavy a-little-too-long-blond hair fly by

and saw # 11 do that which he loves and does well....

It was joy---even if I forgot to wear my "Soccer Mom" socks.

This weekend was fun too---

Sarah & Lauren retreated from American U. for about 24 hours.

Ledos pizza, "Get Smart" DVD, worship together,

Sunday dinner with Hilda

And a walk in the neighborhood.....

Strolling among the leaves is more fun than raking them.

And Lauren agreed with me....our Colorado aspens just don't
compare to the colors of the eastern hardwoods.