Jags, skunks, locusts, balls and WINNING.
I recently described the area we live in as being similar to Seward Alaska, accessible by road to the big city, but somewhat remote. A very small community with lots of tourism, more restaurants than it needs, minus the big chain restaurants, and littered with tourist shops and activities. A town that partially shuts down in the off-season, and has that small town feel, where you feel like you know or at least know of almost everyone in town. That is Flamingo; except most people here are always in bathing suits or shorts, and the beaches here beg you to be bare foot, not in Extra Tuff rubber boots, even in the rain.
In all actuality, we are probably smaller, people wise than Seward, and definitely smaller family wise. You see there is a large contingent of retired or semi-retired people here, people sans kids. Therefore the schools are pretty small. The public schools, open air Bodegas, are all in spanish, not an option for english speaking kids. So the only other choice is a private school of which there are three in the area. Our kids go to Gold Coast, the school with the most seniors of any private school in the area, 8. This does not often make for a robust sports program, and often the first clue is when every able body boy in the school is on the basketball team. Dorian and Jeremy are among those. Oh, and several of those boys have never touched a basketball in their life.
The Gold Coast Jags had their first game a few nights ago in Liberia, against a school with about 800 kids. Although the game was extremely entertaining, it was not very competitive.
The Jags practice facility. It reminds me of Madison Square Garden, at least the garden part.
One of the nicest Gyms in the area, and yes those are not windows at the end, it is open air.
First of all there are some American assumptions that must be cleared up. Practice: In America, high school sports practice for pretty much any sport is 4-5 days a week, 2 hours a day, at least! Here practice is 1 day a week for 2 hours in a dark open air multi-purpose room with no fans, no air conditioning and lots of hot, heavy dead air. Shoot, I coached kids from 5 years old and up and we had practice at least 2-3 times a week.
Dorian warming up. Ironic, since it was like 90 degrees out.
Facilities: In America every school has a gym. In Costa Rica a school is lucky to have desks. However every private school I have seen has a pool, but not a gym. And the pool is more for cooling off during lunch than for competitive swimming. That’s why our kids practice at a facility several miles away in the middle of Huacas, that is dark,dirty and hot.
More warm ups.
smiling as he gets hacked for an "and one"
Mindset: In America we drove our kids to excel, we drove them to succeed in sports, at all costs, and we drove them to a lot of practices, games and meetings. It was a lot of driving. Here athletes, except for soccer, seem to have more of a surfer’s attitude. They want to win or catch the big wave, but if not, well Pura Vida, there will be another one soon. Don’t get me wrong, the kids want to win, the coaches want to win, but it’s not like their life depends on it. They compete and play hard, they get mad when they mess up, they get frustrated when others mess up and they work their butts off during the game. But when it’s done it’s done, time to get some Burger King or McDonald’s, a rare treat in these parts, and get ready for the next wave, after a brutal 2 hours of practice in the coming week.
Jeremy running the show
Jeremy getting ready to score his first point as a Jag!
up and in!
the gym, and I don't know what the heck that thing is on the wall.
Playing under the bright lights, dodging bats locusts and bugs.
Like all things here, it will take some getting used to. But I must say these are a lot of the changes that we wanted to experience. We don’t miss driving 200 miles a day ( literally) to practices, dance classes, games etc. We don’t miss having stressed out kids and angry parents screaming in the stands. And we don’t miss winning. Okay, that last one is a lie. We sure would like to win a few games this year, but first we better work on scoring some points. But on the bright side, the games are fun to watch, if not for the basketball action, then for the giant locusts flying around in the gym, or the bats feeding on the bugs by the lights, or even the skunks that wander nearby. Winning quickly becomes a secondary concern when a skunk is involved. Perhaps the Jags can figure out a way to use it to their advantage on defense.
Our favorite Costa Rican Fish, The Dark Jackson.
There have been a lot of surprises since we have relocated. Most of them we expected, a few are shocking, and some are more difficult than anticipated. One of the most surprising has been the kids acclamation to water. Being raised in Alaska, the opportunities to swim outside the occasional visit to the local pool, are daunted by the freezing water, and most often end up being an ankle-deep wade at best. Living with a pool in your front yard, a beach 5 minutes away, and perennial 90 degree Fahrenheit air and water tends to change that a little. None more apparent than our favorite fish the Dark Jackson, whom you may know as Jake. Since leaving Alaska Jake has lived in the water. Jake would sleep in the water if he could.
Getting ready for a pairs dive
Pairs diving
Jake doing a dive he invented
showing off
more of the same
Can you see the thumbs up? Maybe he is more of ham than a fish.
He always finds the camera
In the morning, after breakfast, and sometimes before, he is in the pool. Throughout the day into the dark, he is often in the pool. After coming home from all day at the beach, he is in the pool. The kid loves the water, and has become very proficient in it. He can hold his breath longer than me, he can do better dives than any of us, he can swim like a manta ray and no one ever taught him how to swim. He never had a lesson, he was never old enough for us to really teach, he just did it.
the elusive the Dark Jackson
The ham thing must run in the family
About to be crushed by a big wave, no worries.
Perhaps it is allegoric to our life. Just maybe we need to lead them to the opportunities, or provide the tools for our children, ie. the pool, and let them swim. We can be right there to help them, in the water or on the edge jumping to their rescue when needed, but perhaps if we give them a little leeway and let them go just a little they will swim and they will excel in the way that God intended, beyond anything we could imagine. But then we would have to live with the realization that perhaps what God wants with our lives and our children’s lives is much bigger than anything we could imagine. That makes it much more difficult to let them out of the wading pool, unfortunately with us stuck right by their side. Or maybe Jake is just a natural-born swimmer.
Short video showing some of the kiddos sacrificing boogie boards and getting crushed at Playa Flamingo. I was laughing at them, not with them.
In his element
an un-anticipated milestone (or inchstone)
Oh, the second milestone. Shoes, yes shoes. I took Dorian to get his basketball shoes for the season. He is very particular about his shoes, well about everything. But we finally found a pair he liked, with rockets and flubber gel, super jump springs,weighing only one ounce, and they had 7 years same as cash. So that means we can have them paid off by the time he graduates college.
We ordered up his 10 1/2 to 11, the same size his dad wears. He put them on and they looked great, but he said they were a little tight. So the shoe man said “let’s measure his feet” He slid his sock covered feet into the flat metal foot device and after some minor adjustments the salesman proclaims ” he is closer to 11 1/2″. What? That cannot be! He cannot have bigger feet than his dad! So I chortled, “let me see that thing” and slid my sock covered foot into it; 10 1/2 to 11. No one told me that my 15-year-old kid would ever have bigger feet than me, ever be taller than me, no one. It had never ever occurred to me that my 15-year-old would be unable to fit into my shoes. How could this be? He is still several inches shorter than me, and about 200 pounds lighter.
at least mine smell better!
Then I recalled a day, many years and many follicles ago, sitting in the lobby of Bethel Regional High School, socializing with friends. I plopped my size 10/12 foot up on the coffee table, and those next to me exclaimed “holy smokes, dude you have huge feet. You are going to be a giant!”. Obviously I am not a giant, but I do know that I have worn the same size shoes since my freshman year of High School; so I wonder if Dorian will have the same fate?
So now you know the second milestone is that my first child now has bigger shoes to fill than his dad. What is even more frightening is that I still have three boys to go. The good news, when he is done with a pair of shoes, I can borrow them. I may look like a clown, but I am old enough now that I don’t care.
At least mine are much warmer, and much less gnarly I might add.
Summer of Soccer
Finally the soccer season has come to close. Unfortunately it ended with Jerms team losing at the state tournament, so it was a bittersweet ending to be sure. However it has been a great summer of soccer. The sport has brought us to Anchorage multiple times and Fairbanks, ending with the state cup here in Kenai. During our travels we got to visit my sister and her ever increasing family, some long lost friends from Kodiak, the Wolffs, who were on the precipice of moving to Seattle from Fairbanks. The Coons who now reside in Fairbanks, and of course my Mom who is still in Eagle River.
Jake and Isiah in action, aka the hooded wonder.
Best friends, terrible defensemen
picture time, not the gum in Jake's mouth and the tongue in Saih's mouth.
rarely seen without his orange hoody that gave him special soccer powers.
I must admit, prior to coaching soccer or watching the kids play soccer, I was not a huge fan. I did not understand the appeal. I mean there are no home runs or slam dunks or three pointers, and what the heck is up with the offsides? Then the refs are always playing with cards and waving flags, it seemed more like a parade at times. Now, well now it is a different story. I have come to learn and appreciate the nuances of the game, the beauty of a perfectly set up cross, the thrill of a header goal, the rarity of a blocked penalty kick, the trickery of offsides, and the amazing full speed footwork, all of it, to me, has become interesting and enjoyable. Even the refs and line judges have felt the wrath of my tongue, a sure sign that I am enjoying the sport I am watching. I will even admit I have actually chosen, not by accident like at a sport’s restaurant, but chosen to put the t.v. on a channel where a World Cup soccer match is being played and watched it. Soccer players are incredible athletes that have earned my admiration.
Livy in action on the best coached team in the league
Livy playing some deadly D
the boys can't keep their eyes of the game....
...neither can the girls.
or "headphones" some of you may know her as Alli.
I guess it is like anything else,when you take the randomness out of it and understand the order of what is being played out before you eyes, then you can appreciate the beauty of what is occurring. It also helps if your kids are participating so you feel vested in the outcome therefore peaking your emotions and proclivity to care. It probably doesn’t hurt that unlike football, the weather is often warm, and you get to sit on the sidelines in comfy lawn chair coaching a prefect game with all the other sideline dads, with no risk. So today’s post and pictures are dedicated to the summer of soccer and the joy, exhilaration, frustration and aggravation it brought to our family; or in other words, LIFE.
Jeremy running for the snack.
must be some pizza straight ahead!
Jerms clearing the ball
coach Scott bestowing sugar and honey all over the boys, I am sure.
It wasn't all soccer this is pool, err golf? Better stick to soccer Jeremy.
do you think Ben knew a camera was near?
Benny doing his thang! That girl tried to get by him earlier, you see what that got her.
Ben fixing to take the ball
That's not a push, just aggressiveness.
Ben was famous for his throw ins. He managed to get a side spin on em and launch em deep.
Bradley Clipperhands vs. Goldilocks
You never know the events that will take place when a rambunctious 9 year old and his uncle have time on their hands. I was fortunate to catch this rare interaction on video and I thought I would share it with you. Oh yeah, we didn’t tell his mom about this either. Love ya honey and hope you like it.
Had some youtube problems, so we used dailymotion this time. I hope you can hear it.
Goooooaaaaaalllllllllllll
Tis the season for soccer. I know we still have snow afoot, in fact if I am not mistaken, we had one of our biggest blizzards of the year last night. But here in the AK you gotta make it work, and you gotta be ready for when the fields melt and you can start practicing in the plains of mud. So this past weekend we had soccer tryouts for Ben and Jeremy. Last year they both played comp soccer, which basically means the parents pay more $$ for fancier uniforms, and the parents pay $$ for matching backpacks, socks and water bottles and the parents pay more $$ for trips, and the parents pay $$ to travel to Fairbanks and Anchorage at least 3 times. You gotta love comp soccer!
When is soccer tryouts?
We had a great time with it last year. It gave us a chance to go visit my wayward sister in Fairbanks and enjoy a real summer. Last year it was about 106 degrees in the land of the midnight sun, and we spent most of our evenings at the lake. The downside, the kids had to play soccer in the heat. When you are used to playing with a jacket or under armour or sweater on, adjusting to about a 40 degree temperature swing can be challenging, even to a 9 year old. I saw a lot of red faces matching the hue of their bright red uniforms, but the redest face of them all was on the sidelines cheering with reckless abandon, me.
I always warn the boys to get in shape before tryouts, and they usually listen…. the day before tryouts. This year was no different.
getting in shape for tryouts
stretching the goal scoring leg
I wonder if he knows he doesn't have to use his chest in soccer?
Both of the boys did great and were excited to make the team. Ben’s team took second in state, which is quite an accomplishment I am told, over and over and over…
Hey, I should be kicking a soccer ball while I run.
We still have not received notice of whether or not the boys made the teams this year as there was a significant increase in the amount of participants; they must’ve heard about summer in Fairbanks. But if they do, it will be days of fun I am sure, if they don’t it means a few less road trips and a few more fishing trips, either way it is a win for us.
Life goes on and on and on…
That’s what we have to realize at this time. Tracy and I always talk about having a magical device that you could just push a button and you could be somewhere else or fast forward time to bypass hard times. I would use it every time I am coming home late from fishing, her to get us through bad times quickly. But without the bad times, there would be no good times; you can’t have one without the other. So life goes on, although very unpleasant as it may be.
However, in the wallowing sea of sadness we are currently living in, we had a super bright spot today, something I have been looking forward to years and years. My first time watching a high school game with one of my kids playing. Dorian had his first high school game today, and I was sooooo excited. I have coached all my kids in something, but it all started with Dorian and basketball. He immediately took an interest in basketball and he was good from early on. Although he is almost always the smallest kid on any team he is on, football, basketball, baseball, ballet, .. ok I made that last one up, usually has the most heart. I have watched him get pummeled by bigger kids in football, try to box out huge kids in basketball, try to hit balls thrown by mere giants in baseball, and go right back and get some more. The kid has heart and I couldn’t be more proud of him. He is not always the fastest or best, but he is almost always one of coaches favorite ( I am not counting me even though I have coached him in just about everything except that ballet thing) because he never ever complains and he does what he is told. He could have tears streaming down his eyes, he does what he is suppose to do and he does it to the best of his ability. You cannot ask for more than that, although as his coach I probably have. So today’s blog is in honor of my oldest child, my parent’s oldest grandchild ( out of 20 I think) and Tracy’s parent’s oldest grandchild, Dorian Grey Godfrey. I could not be prouder of him.
He was sooo nervous, as I remember being. He looked lost for the first few minutes.
Let's get this thing started!
It seems to me that kids are much bigger than when I was in school. I remember thinking I was hot stuff, and it turns out I was right, but I don’t remember kids looking so big; especially freshman.
Dude, we could so take these guys, just us three.
Textbook defense, (just like dad taught him).
Dorian didn’t play tons tonight, but when he did he played well. He had the best defensive stance I saw all night, and some great moves. Pretty sweet shoes help too.
You can see how close his head is to the rim here, hope the NBA scouts were watching.
If there is a camera around, Jo will find it. Her forced smile is quite unique.
Beautiful skies on the way home.
I just threw this one in here because it was eerily pretty and icy on the way home, plus maybe Aspen Hotels will give me some $$ for putting em in my blog.
Here is a short video of some of Dorian’s action tonght. You can watch it here or tune into ESPN Sportscenter tonight at 10pm. Oh yeah, they won by like a dozen points or so, after all that is what is most important, isn’t it?
