Soccer Game #2
With a week off thanks to the Labor Day weekend, Deven’s second soccer game took place on 9/12/09. Although we’re still technically in summer, it was a very fall-like day. The sun was unable to peek through the dense clouds and the temperature at game time was barely above 50 degrees.
Things got off to a bad start. During warm-ups Deven received a high-speed soccer ball right to the face. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and his teammate’s kick smackedDeven really hard. He began to cry and ran to us on the sidelines. No bumps, no bruises. After crying it out for a few minutes, Deven shook it off and returned to the field. It was very frustrating that there was no apology by the player or the parents…
For their second game, Deven’s Rapids faced off against the Fire. The Labor Day holiday had its affects on the Rapids. For starters, the very first kick of the game resulted in a goal for the opposition. This was made worse by the confusion of the Rapids, going the wrong direction and scoring in the wrong net. Within a few minutes they were down 0-2.
After some pep talk the team finally got their act together and kept the ball on the Fire’s end. Pretty soon the game was all tied up. The Rapids seemed to be a bigger team, though the Fire are in the same age group. Their size and physicality allowed the Rapids to take control of the game and win by a large margin.
The big news of the day was that Deven finally scored his very two goals! He was so happy I thought the smile would stay on his face forever. It was good to hear the other parents congratulate him and give out high-fives.
Unfortunately, no one else from the family was able to attend. The game had a 9am start time and it was a cold, dreary morning. Deven’s sister also didn’t come as she was at a friend’s house from the night before.
Still, Jess and I were very proud of Deven today, for sticking it out even though he got hurt and for scoring a pair of goals. He was rewarded with a brand new game for his Nintendo DS.
The Coffee Shop on 8th Ave. & 22nd St.
the stench of cloves burn my nostrils
instigating an ache in my left temple
that will last for hours
I’ll have my coffee black with sugar
folks from all genres enter the out-door
university professors with their barely legal girlfriends
along with pseudo-artists
hanging onto their fortune cookie philosophies
all of these clowns live by the same slogan
fuck the norm! they scream
wearing a Rage Against the Machine tee-shirt with Che’s face
forgetting that being anti-norm is the norm
the women complain that a good man is hard to find
not for once thinking that the fact they choose to not shave
might influence the men they’re too afraid to speak to
dirty girls need a bath
a group of lesbian-loving-man-haters sit at the next table
each of which has a bad cock-tale
so they turn to the lips beneath the hips
hoping to find solace in the womb of another woman
conversations from all corners find my ears
tales of lost loves and new found happiness
stories concerning none of the present parties
and (thanks for the coffee) affairs a world away
I came to this hell to read a poem
wondering why no one has begun
only to realize that I am at fault tonight
the reading is on Wednesday and today is Tuesday
©1998, P. Kukreja. All rights reserved.
Get ‘Em Mamis - “Cold Summer”
Went to a funeral today for my mom’s oldest brother. I didn’t know the man well — in my 33 years I’d spent less than a total of 40 hours with him. Mostly, I went for my mom, to support her during what has been a difficult two months. My uncle was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early November. The disease ravaged him quickly.
While the passing of a loved one brings families close together (physically), it also has a way of bringing out some ugliness (emotionally). Even before his death on 12/21/08, relatives bickered over his possessions (which were few) and neglected many of the things that mattered (finances, arrangmenets, etc). Fortunately, the arguments didn’t last long. Today’s service was moving.
The viewing/Rosary was held last night, and I brought along my 4 year-old son. I explained to him that we were saying goodbye to my uncle, that he was moving to Heaven to be with God. “When is it our turn?” my son asked. Hopefully, not for a very, very, long time.
Doug Wilson, “Weeds” Season 4
Newell man dies in collision with horse » RapidCityJournal.com 
An old high school buddy was killed on 9/11 in a freak accident. I’d been in contact with Shawn recently, catching up on life’s events and finding out that he had become a master potter. Sad news…
