The number one track family (#31DaysofMemories)
When I was in junior high, we moved from Racine to a small town west of Madison, Wisconsin. My dad was the new preaching minister at a church. My mom was still homeschooling my siblings and I. And we were slowly settling into our a new normal. After our first year, my older sister decided she wanted to go to public school. So, my parents agreed with certain conditions and life changed a little bit more without my big sister home all the time.
One of the things that marked my sister's high school days was track. She started running track her sophomore year. And for the next three years, our family spent our spring nights cheering and losing our voices at track meets all over South/Southwest Wisconsin. I honestly don't think we missed a meet. I can only think of one meet that my dad missed (and my sister just so happened to win her race that night!).
We endured every type of weather condition in order to be there for her. I remember snow-storms where we watched from the car. I remember days of sweltering heat where we wished for the cold. I remember days of rain where by the time the long distance races started (she ran the 800m and the 4x800) we were drenched all the way through. I remember days where it would be warm when the meet started and freezing by the time it ended. But through it all, we were always there for her. And for her team.
We became known as the track family. We were cheered for when we pulled up next to the bus. We were hugged and thanked at the end of every meet. We were invited to every graduation party. And we knew each member of the track team by name and they knew us.
My mom was known for bringing the best popcorn to each meet. It was just made in the stir-popper, buttered, salted and delivered in a brown paper bag. We went through countless bags of popcorn in those three years. It even got to the point where she would spend the entire day popping corn in order to have enough bags for the kids to have on the buses.
We even hosted the track party at our house one year. That was insane and so much fun. We had all the kids and coaches in our yard, grilling out, playing games and having a water fight. To them, my younger siblings and I weren't just annoying little kids. We were apart of the team. We were family.
I can't remember all the names of all the runners any more. I still remember most of them though. I remember the silly little rhymes we would make up for cheers. The hand-sign we had for our long distance runners. I remember the long drives and the long nights.
But most of all I remember the time I got to spend with my family. With my sister. I wouldn't trade those nights of terrible weather or too long meets for anything. Track gave us a special bond. A special memory that my family shares. And sometimes I wish I could go back and just enjoy a track meet with my family like we used to.
One of the things that marked my sister's high school days was track. She started running track her sophomore year. And for the next three years, our family spent our spring nights cheering and losing our voices at track meets all over South/Southwest Wisconsin. I honestly don't think we missed a meet. I can only think of one meet that my dad missed (and my sister just so happened to win her race that night!).
We endured every type of weather condition in order to be there for her. I remember snow-storms where we watched from the car. I remember days of sweltering heat where we wished for the cold. I remember days of rain where by the time the long distance races started (she ran the 800m and the 4x800) we were drenched all the way through. I remember days where it would be warm when the meet started and freezing by the time it ended. But through it all, we were always there for her. And for her team.
We became known as the track family. We were cheered for when we pulled up next to the bus. We were hugged and thanked at the end of every meet. We were invited to every graduation party. And we knew each member of the track team by name and they knew us.
My mom was known for bringing the best popcorn to each meet. It was just made in the stir-popper, buttered, salted and delivered in a brown paper bag. We went through countless bags of popcorn in those three years. It even got to the point where she would spend the entire day popping corn in order to have enough bags for the kids to have on the buses.
We even hosted the track party at our house one year. That was insane and so much fun. We had all the kids and coaches in our yard, grilling out, playing games and having a water fight. To them, my younger siblings and I weren't just annoying little kids. We were apart of the team. We were family.
I can't remember all the names of all the runners any more. I still remember most of them though. I remember the silly little rhymes we would make up for cheers. The hand-sign we had for our long distance runners. I remember the long drives and the long nights.
But most of all I remember the time I got to spend with my family. With my sister. I wouldn't trade those nights of terrible weather or too long meets for anything. Track gave us a special bond. A special memory that my family shares. And sometimes I wish I could go back and just enjoy a track meet with my family like we used to.
Comments
Post a Comment