Everything that begins seems to also have an ending, and the 2015 softball season for Tigerton High School ended today with a 6-0 loss in the Tigers’ first sectional game. Getting to the sectional was an adventure in itself.
Practice begins shortly after the end of the basketball season, in March. I know my granddaughter and some of her friends began bringing their gloves to school earlier than that and throwing the ball around after lunch.
She was excited for her second year of being on the team, and her goal was to earn a starting spot, which she did. My goal was to watch all of the games, even those that were a bit of a travel, which I did.
I am not an expert at softball, but have been a fan in the stands when my daughter and granddaughters have played. I also like baseball, but softball seems to be faster paced with a lot more action.
The high school games began in April. Some of the early games were warm and pleasant; just a sweatshirt, and a zipped-up hooded one over the top, were sufficient to stay warm. Others were cold and windy, and I wished I had brought mittens as well as a blanket.
As May arrived, some game days were hot, and sun screen was needed and used. Meanwhile, I didn’t bother carrying in all the gear that might be needed. In my van at all times during the past two months were a blanket, sun screen and several coats. Some coats were warmer than others, so I always had the right one. The sunglasses and baseball cap also came in handy.
When I got home from tonight’s game, June 2, I unloaded the van of coats, the blanket, the stadium seat, my baseball cap and sun screen. I left the sunglasses, as who knows when I might need them.
While it was sad to unload the stuff, and sad to say farewell to all the other fans who cheered with me, it was with the knowledge that the girls did the best they could, and we can look forward to next season and what is next.
For me, what is next is to get my computer back into working order. That was accomplished, I thought, but that sleepy, stubborn monitor is still not working. I am getting quite good at the laptop, but there are a few things the computer has that I am missing, like the pictures I saved on it.
The other thing that is next is learning how to walk with one foot nonweight bearing and the other foot with its own problems. In a few short days, I will be having my right foot fused, and life will change for me for most of the summer.
I keep trying to remember the line from “Unbroken”: “If you can take it, you can make it.”
Meanwhile, I have decided not to plant any flowers, as my family will be busy caring for me, and I don’t want them to have to care for my flowers also. Of course, there are those who come back every year and bloom; right now there are irises and clematis.
So the calendar turned to June, and the Tigerton High School softball season is over, and I am preparing to face a new kind of summer.
