At the end of it all daddy and Irini walked down the pathway connecting the gymnasium to the main administration building at ABA Oman, where the tournament was hosted. Mommy and Amalia were a bit ahead of them and daddy turned to his oldest and spoke of moments... moments holding his daughter when she was less than a day old and created half-molded dreams... moments of when Irini joined her first basketball "team" in grade 5... moments he tried to capture as time ran out on the last games of the season... they walked together in a quiet space - everyone had already gone - and he found a few tears roll down his face. It was over.
We knew the day would come that school-aged athletics would be over (in this case, for Irini). It was strangely calm for him, even as he felt the 'pang' of the moment. Mommy and daddy are so proud of our two girls, and so it was only fitting that the end should come in a bitter-sweet way. The sadness of endings mixed with the positive visions of beautiful things to come. And our hearts are full with the moments that have been shared and the mere fact that for one (more) season our two girls were on the same team!
And on the other side, Amalia. Being "brought up" to varsity to help the team was a thrill to watch. Even more impressive was the role she would be given (starting point guard for most games). It was her "first" varsity season. Her first time playing at this level and learning so much along the way!
How beautiful it is for a parent to watch their children play. To see them, in real time, succeed and struggle and make mistakes and overcome. How beautiful too to be there when the real joy shines through - be it a little smirk following the making of both foul shots, the pride in having forced a turnover from the opposing team's superstar, or the pure joy of being on the right side of the result at the end of a hard-fought game. But more beautiful still (for a parent) to watch both their children share in the very moments you cherish so much!
And so this post is about that. Endings and beginnings. Challenges and successes. And in the beauty of simply being together and sharing the moments that define us as parents, as children, as basketball players and, more importantly, as a family. There is a whole lot of love here!
"Taking the moment to connect"
"Irini's last basket"
"Irini's last assist"
PS. (Off the record it's been over a year since we've last posted. A visitor won't likely know that becasue between now and when he/she might pop in we (hopefully) will have 'filled the blanks' in our family history - the good and the not-so-good. Life continues and love is everywhere).
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