It was Birthday Eve. The day before her 5th birthday. A crisp, cool Autumn day kissed by the hint of coming snow. She had a soccer game. The last of the season. Seemingly one week longer than made sense, weather wise. Yet there we were. All headed to watch the soccer star on the season finale.
The mood was light. Only two players from the opposing team showed up and one of them decided it was not a soccer playing type day. She crawled on all fours from center field before the game began and was not seen again this season. So the soccer star’s team did what was fair….they had two of their players join the other team. Three on Three for the fun of the sport began.
Lots of goals were scored. Somewhere, someone might have kept score. Both sides won today. Just like things are supposed to be. The soccer star scored somewhere between two and one less then 10,000 goals. It had to be one less than 10.000 goals because her Dad said if she scored 10.000 goals, he were get her a puppy. He was ready to foul her himself if she got to 9,999. Luckily, he was not called into action this fine day.
The soccer star enjoyed the game, the snacks, and more. The day would be filled with birthday events a day early and she knew it. It was a day for first time ear piecing (I heard later she did a lot better than her mother on her first time out), a party, and dinner of her choosing. (Hamburgers and French Fries…..she said she planned on having them today and tomorrow since today was really her Birthday Eve. I suspect her mother and father had some other ideas.) The day was a gift and tomorrow would be even sweeter. After all, five years old happens only once and it is to be enjoyed.
All this and the point of the story happened just a few minutes before the soccer game. It happened when she walked across the field. Her hair is long and it was winged back a bit. It was the same color of another girl I followed across other fields in days like today that happened thirty or so years ago. Yet today, there she was. The same little girl. The bounce in her step. The light in her eyes when she saw me chase after her. The smile on her face when I caught her. The same little girl was right there and I was the man learning how precious each moment can be when you play with your children.
Thanks for the gift, Meghan. You ran across the field. I crossed time and space and got to see you and the girl that looks just like you and always will. Today is your birthday. You are tomorrow in so many ways. It was a wonderful day in the park yesterday…..and days long before I understood how much joy a five year old could bring into my world.
Happy Birthday, Meghan Wood
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