First off, Pat called on Saturday to share that he had been out on Friday with friends and it sounded like he had a nice time. I have been worried about him out there by himself in Ohio since Mike moved away but I think he is making his own way. I hope that one day he'll call and say that he has met that special girl that he can share things with but for now I am happy that things are going well for him.
Also on Saturday, Kate took Billy to his first major concert. One of Billy's favorite bands, Something Corporate (I think he was actually influenced on this by his older brothers), was playing along with a about a million other bands at the Meadowlands in NJ. The two took off on their most excellent adventure mid-morning on Saturday and gleefully returned after hearing Something Corporate, Hanson, and Paramore and Billy snagging 3/4 of a drumstick from Something Corporate (long story there) after 1am. Any time my kids are out driving it is time for me to stress over their safety but once again everyone returned safely; thank you God.
Mike was also busy on Saturday. After playing soccer he headed over with friends to test his betting skills on the horse races. On his first six dollar bet on some preliminary Derby races he won $250.00. He called and I said "that's great, go home" because I figure you are ahead don't push it. Luckily for him he pays no attention to me because he ended up taking his winnings and betting the Trifecta at the Derby and wouldn't you know he won to the tune of $2500.00. Pretty good return on his original $6 investment, don't you think? Now don't get me wrong, there is no way I condone betting and that is something Don or I would never do; it is just way beyond our comfort zone but I still have to say good job. So far, he seems to understand how to bet responsibly and as long as he can keep it that way, good for him.
Katie had her second soccer game in her new league today. She has started to play with a group of girls in the area on a team that a fellow employee at her work found. When she met up with us later today she was exhausted from playing in our 90 degree heat wave with a seven woman team versus an 11 woman team. I am glad to see her finding ways to make new friends in our new hometown. It hasn't been easy for her since leaving school and parting from the good friends she had made over four years and coming back to a home in a new place where she new virtually no one.
The highlight of my weekend though has to be the swimteam banquet we attended for Billy today. Sometimes life just throws those little curve balls your way that just take you by surprise and this time in a good way. The banquet was the celebration of the end of the swim year for the team that Billy has been swimming on since last spring. He swims on the National Team which is a yearlong training program offered by the Upper Main Line YMCA (UMLY). Last month his year of swimming culminated in him earning the opportunity to compete in two events at the YMCA National Meet held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. That was a huge accomplishment considering he couldn't swim even one length of the pool when he was eleven. He finished in about the middle of the pack in both of his events (he was 50/101 in the 500 free and 85/138 in the 100 breast) which we were all very proud of. It has really inspired him to continue his swimming and to improve his national ranking. In addition to swimming for the National Team the kids also compete on the UMLY winter swim teams which include kids of all ages and abilities and involves swimming in dual meets against other Ys in the area. UMLY has a girls' A,B, and C team and a boys' A and B team and you earn your spot on the teams according to ability. To make the teams more fair they ask the National Team swimmers, which would naturally qualify for the A team, to volunteer to swim on the B and C teams. Billy was one that raised his hand at the beginning of the winter season to swim on the boys' B team. All the older swimmers on the teams are expected to mentor the younger swimmers by taking them under their wings during practices and to help out especially at meets. Today we learned (this is our first year with UMLY) that there is an award called the Joey Guest Award that is given to a deserving swimmer on each of those teams. I will quote for you what the Joey Guest Award is:
"Joey Guest swam on UMLY's Boys' B Team in the 1970's. Joey was not necessarily known for his fast times or his first place finishes - but instead, for his contagious smile, infectious laugh, mischievous eyes and enthusiastic "high fives's" for all his fellow swimmers after their races. Joey was always at practice on time and no set was ever too tough for him to tackle. He always had a smile and kind word for his teammates, his coaches, and the many volunteers. Although
he died very young, Joey's enthusiastic spirit will always remain "First Place" in the hearts of all who knew him at UMLY. In his memory, we are pleased to present an annual award to a member of each of our swim teams in recognition of outstanding team spirit."Billy was selected as this years recipient of the Joey Guest Award for the Boys' B Team. Billy is a first year swimmer on the UMLY team and for him to have distinguished himself as deserving of this award just makes his Dad and me so proud that both of us had a hard time holding back the tears in our eyes that came when his name was called. Congratulations Billy; Dad and I know how special you are but it is certainly very gratifying to have others also recognize this about you. Cry, cry, cry.....but they are tears of joy.....Till Tomorrow......
