last game ever?

(Ben is standing in the middle.)

All season long I forgot to take my camera to Ben's soccer games. When I finally did remember, it was the only game that Ben sat out. The. entire. time.  And they lost. Again. But as usual, Ben took all of it in stride.

When I was a young mom I was celebrating "firsts." Now I'm celebrating "lasts." Okay, sometimes it's celebrating, sometimes it's noticing and sometimes it's grieving. And this game was very likely my last soccer game.

I rarely go anywhere without a book and pen and paper, but for this game I left it all in the car. To keep myself occupied I took pictures of a co-worker's brother who was on the field. Go #5.

Sports can teach you to work hard, be a team player, be a good sport when you lose - and when you win. Or keep working hard (with a smile) when you spend an entire game on the bench. Ben has learned a lot. Rah, rah, rah! Go, Ben!