Summer Soccer

Growing up I enjoyed playing many different sports. My athletic activities included baseball, basketball, football, tennis, volleyball, and other physically stimulating games. However, the sport I have held to be my "first love" since I was six years old, playing it twice a week with my home school group every autumn for eleven years, is the sweet, sweet sport of soccer.

This month I have enjoyed the opportunity to return to my "first love," playing in a summer soccer league at a local park two nights a week (at least on those nights when I was in town). To my dismay I have experienced a very stark reality, namely that my level of competition growing up, when I ruled the field and scored at will, was incredibly lacking (to put it charitably). Therefore, this past month has been a good lesson of humility and perseverance, as my playing endeavors fall far short of many others playing with and against me. However, I can truly say that I have enjoyed the exercise, have profited from some serious humbling, and will be playing again in July (tonight was the final game of our June season).

Thanks to Lourdes Torres, who graciously consented to capture the evening with my camera (she was there peacefully watching Andrew with Mr. Torres when Barnes and I requested her to act as photographer with our cameras), I finally have some pictures to share with everyone. Pictures are not a replacement for watching something in person, but Lourdes did get some cool shots that I think you will enjoy.