I have been struggling through---mom's illness, career challenges, self acceptance, parenthood, childhood, peaks and valleys, waxes and wanes, highs and lows---on the roller coaster of life at age 50. I have never been a fan of roller coasters. I find my own thrills unfold when least expected. I have never sought them out.
With more and more days spent in hospitals or doctor offices waiting for blood counts and cat scan results it is easy to sink into despair. But along with those dark days comes the yearning for and
appreciation of good days filled with smiles and laughter. Don't get me wrong, there is love, unconditional love on all days but lately I have been oh so needing a good day.
On Saturday, the temperatures rose and the sun shone as we crossed the shore from west to east coast of the Chesapeake Bay, on our way to our beloved Chestertown. We have made this trip a hundred times but never with this much anticipation. For today was JD, our second born son's, Senior Day.
Only other sports families can truly grasp what the day represents. In a family with a lacrosse history such as ours, the day represented the hard work of a father who passed on the skill and love of a game called lacrosse. The day represented the love of a Mother who never played a sport in her life but cheers every move of her son on the field, and prays the rosary fervently for every minute of the regulation game clock. This father and mother cheer, cry, worry, sweat, and sigh with relief when they see their son happy on the field. These parents recall the countless hot summer tournaments, hours of sitting at practices, bruises and breaks, victories and defeats of the past 15 seasons. On Senior Day it is an acknowledgement of the commitment of the player who was launched to play on his own when he stepped on the field as a college freshman.
Our player, JD, has never disappointed us. He has been a success off the field with excellent grades, a good character, and ability to learn from his mistakes and a phenomenal college career with his passion: lacrosse. He just works hard. All the time.
JD played the game of his career helping his team to defeat a conference foe for the first time in twelve years. He played his heart out scoring, scooping, smiling! It was pure joy swelling from our hearts to watch it unfold. The accolades came and they were well deserved by our #5. Wasn't it just yesterday that we bought that first lacrosse stick and he looked like a bobble head on the field with that tiny body and big helmet? We love you Justin Donald and are so proud of you!
