One of my sons is a soccer goalkeeper, and we have retained the services of a private GK coach. His practice sessions are held in the coach's suburban neighborhood, at a little community park. This past week, my son and his coach were working hard out on the grass, while I sat in the car under a huge shade tree, windows down, reading a magazine.
Suddenly, on the other side of the park, a horde of kids comes running over the crest, bellowing at the top of their lungs. I'm talking at least 25-30 young boys and girls. They are all wearing bandanas tied around their foreheads, and ragged strips of cloth hanging from their clothes. At first glance it reminds one of a vignette from "Lord of the Flies"... or even "Braveheart". I half expect a pint-size William Wallace to appear at the top of the grassy knoll, raise a Nerf sword above his head and scream "Freeeeeedooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmm!"
And, lest you think my overactive imagination is the only force at work here.... rest assured that I'm not the only one. This scene was so surreal and displaced that everyone in the park stopped what they were doing and just stared. The GK coach, Matthew, the kids and the YUMs (Young Urbanite Moms) in the playground area. Everyone one looked and stared and wondered. So this is not just me :)
Finally, the tail end of the Mongol onslaught included some adults, who negotiated grassy space with the coach and setup the flag football game that was to celebrate some young man's birthday. Pictures were taken by the fountain pool, and the game of fútbol Americano con banderas commenced.... and all was explained.
Bandanas on the forehead, marking two teams-- red and blue. The strips of cloth, upon closer inspection, were flag football attachments. The Scottish Clan fervor provided by birthday sugar ingestion.
But, deep down.... I like my version better.
Suddenly, on the other side of the park, a horde of kids comes running over the crest, bellowing at the top of their lungs. I'm talking at least 25-30 young boys and girls. They are all wearing bandanas tied around their foreheads, and ragged strips of cloth hanging from their clothes. At first glance it reminds one of a vignette from "Lord of the Flies"... or even "Braveheart". I half expect a pint-size William Wallace to appear at the top of the grassy knoll, raise a Nerf sword above his head and scream "Freeeeeedooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmm!"
And, lest you think my overactive imagination is the only force at work here.... rest assured that I'm not the only one. This scene was so surreal and displaced that everyone in the park stopped what they were doing and just stared. The GK coach, Matthew, the kids and the YUMs (Young Urbanite Moms) in the playground area. Everyone one looked and stared and wondered. So this is not just me :)
Finally, the tail end of the Mongol onslaught included some adults, who negotiated grassy space with the coach and setup the flag football game that was to celebrate some young man's birthday. Pictures were taken by the fountain pool, and the game of fútbol Americano con banderas commenced.... and all was explained.
Bandanas on the forehead, marking two teams-- red and blue. The strips of cloth, upon closer inspection, were flag football attachments. The Scottish Clan fervor provided by birthday sugar ingestion.
But, deep down.... I like my version better.
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