MIESEM.COM

Today is a red-letter day for sure.

Throughout the season, we have encouraged both Harry and Zoe to really let loose on the field. It’s not been easy for them; they’re both so polite that they’re afraid to take the ball away from another player during the game. It’s rude, after all.

There is also another strange phenomena that seems to grip both of them during a game: they are unable to run fast. During practice, during spare time, or even coming off the field, the kids run like a frieght train out of control. During the game, however, it’s another story. For whatever reason, they’ve not really so much run as ambled during games.

So, during practice last week, Harry scored a goal. This was a big deal. He’s done it before during practice, but not when he was supposed to, and not on purpose. He actually stole the ball from another player and kicked it straight into the goal. Daniele called me while I was on the bus to let me know, and I was thrilled.

We had smoothies that night to celebrate (I was craving smoothies, so it was easy to be motivated to make them) and told Harry and Zoe that if one of them made a goal during the game today, we’d go out for ice cream. Their eyes were lit up all week.

Harry’s game was first, and he was pretty excited to get out on the field and start playing. Coach Gary put him and two other players in to start, and they all kicked the ball into each other’s shins for a minute or two. Eventually, the ball went out of bounds and Harry got to do a goal kick. He looked at the ball for a moment, kicked it across the field, then ran up and kicked it into the goal!

Zoe’s game was also very exciting. The other team didn’t show up, because (we think) they were having a tribal celebration that day, so Zoe’s team split into two and played each other. Zoe was on the side that wore yellow jerseys, and she played her heart out. If it had been against any other team, Zoe would have scored at least one goal, because I’ve never seen her play so well. As it turns out, though, when you play against your own team, they know you too well to let too much of that stuff fly.

Next game, I think Zoe will amaze us all. In the mean time, however, Harry got to have a huge ice cream cone (we all ate a bit as well), and all the girls at Baskin Robbins congratulated him on his accomplishment.

I think next season, we’ll ask for two goals.