My Youngest Soccer Player

Julia playing on Morgan Hill the weekend before last, as photographed by Chris Doyle.

Wintry Postcard From Missoula

(Photo by Aidan.)

It snowed overnight in Missoula. This is how it looked outside the boys' dorm this morning. It's so nice having been there last month, because I can recognize the place and remember being there.

I'm glad we got the boys warm boots during our recent visit. We knew this kind of storm would be coming. The boys resisted -- they hate shopping -- but I'm hoping and betting they are happy today we did that then!

-30-

Another Winning Sunday

Photo: Julia executing a perfect pass to one of her teammates today, as her team, Athena White (wearing red) beat a tough opponent 3-2. My favorites moment? Julia's first foul of the season. It occurred at about the 50 yard line. After a girl fouled her, she fouled back, pushing her to the ground out of bounds.

In these situations, referees see the second push, not the first. NP, no difference. Athena won the game.

-30-

They Cheering Section for Auntie JuJu

Just before halftime in today's final game in the tournament at Morgan Hill, one of Julia's older sisters, Sarah Daisy, arrived at the stadium with her three young sons, and her Mom, Alison.

Julia spotted them from where she was playing right back, far across the field. (She has excellent eyesight.)

As her team sat on the grass at halftime, discussing with their coach how to come back from a 0-1 deficit, one of the other parents alerted me that "Julia is waving to the boys."

Sure enough she was and they jumped up and down and waved back.

In soccer, as in some other outdoor sports, the teams change sides of the field at halftime. That is meant to neutralize any ambient factors like wind that might affect the game. For example, kicking or throwing into the wind is far harder than kicking or throwing with the wind at your back.

Same with the sun. It is far harder to compete when you are looking into it than when it is looking at the back of you.

As luck would have it, Julia's team gained the side where we would be able to see her right in front of us in the second half. She plays right back, and at several pivotal points in the game, she grabbed the ball as it went out of bounds and threw it in right before her nephews, Oliver, Leif and James.

She and her teammates acquitted themselves well. Near the end of the game, they scored a dramatic goal and the final score was 1-1.

Due to a variety of factors like goal differential (too technical to describe here) that determine the final standings, they did not move on to play a fourth game.

But we were okay with that. Three intense games in 24 hours takes a toll on any athlete, even a 16-year-old in near-peak condition.

We then went to lunch as a family. We went somewhere Julia and I would never go -- McDonald's -- because it had a play structure where the little boys could and did have tons of fun. Meanwhile, Julia, Alison, Sarah and I got the opportunity to talk about schools, education, soccer, futsol, Montana, college, how Aidan and Dylan are doing, and Peter's impending return to Cal Tech.

As I sat there, watching my youngest interact with everyone, knowing her ankle was throbbing under the therapeutic tape strips that kept it stable during these three difficult games, I realized that what makes me proudest of all of my six shy kids is their sweet natural smiles.

How they smile at other people, including others within our big, extended family -- really two of what others might call "broken families."

I do not consider our clan broken. I have six great kids, six great grandkids, and two wonderful ex-wives. And they all smile at each other and give hugs brilliantly.

The word for that is "blessed."

Meanwhile, go Athena White! Season record is now 6-3-1 with two games left.

-30-

Under Dramatic Skies, On the Road With My Youngest

This afternoon and tonight, I cheered heartily for Julia and her team, Athena White, in the first sports tournament she has ever played in. This one is taking place in Morgan Hill, south of San Jose. I could not be prouder, as she played brilliant defense in two games on a badly injured ankle. When she was on the pitch her team outplayed their opponents, 3-0. When she was off, they were outscored, 0-2.

Of course, what happens in team sports is always much more complicated that what any one person does. But on this particular day, Julia did her part at right fullback, and then some.

She told me afterward what the difference is. She is no longer afraid of being hit by the ball. A great soccer coach once told me this is the key point in any player's development, and they all get there at different ages. She has gotten there at age 16.

What I noticed was when the ball came to her high, she backed up, let it drop to about knee level, and then drove it up the pitch with a long, accurate kick to one of her midfielders or strikers.

This brought back memories of her nickname when she was a much younger competitor -- Thunderfoot. And also how her brother and former coach, Aidan, played the same position before he moved to center back.

Her club team is competing for a place in the championship round tomorrow. As we cut the tape off of her swollen ankle tonight, thanks to a pair of scissors I borrowed from the front desk of our hotel, and after she took her Ibuprofen and while she held a bag of ice on her left leg, we had a surprise:
The girl at the front desk sent up a free gift -- some ice cream and a spoon for my warrior daughter.

Go Julia! Go girl athletes! Go hotel workers who care about their guests!

Life never, ever gets better than this.

-30-

Happy 16th to My Youngest!

Love you, Julia...

Happy Birthday Oliver!

The little guy is 3.