Yesterday put all my whining (even the whining I didn’t voice!) of late in perspective. No, I haven’t had much writing time. And I sacrificed more if it Wednesday and Thursday to go with my son to the regional track meet almost 4 hours from home. He’s qualified for regionals all four years, every year in a different event, though track is by far his least favorite sport. In fact, he only participated this year out of loyalty to his coaches.
This year he qualified in all three of his events: triple jump, 4 x 200 relay, and 4 x 400 relay. He knew his jumping distance would probably render him in last place at this meet. He ended up 7th out of 8. The 8th place finisher scratched on all his jumps! The coaches replaced him in the 4 x 200 relay in hopes of getting that team to state, which happened. And my son, who always puts the good of the team ahead of his own personal glory, was so excited for them. Finally, the last race of the meet: the 4 x 400 relay. My senior son and three sophomores, he being the slowest leg.
He ran a personal best. His team finished 3rd, qualifying to run again at the state meet.
And I cried.
I cried because it is the most amazing and unexpected way to end his four years of football, basketball and track. And I cried because I got to witness it.
If it takes me a week longer to get my revisions done because I went, then so be it. I’ll still make my official deadline, it’ll just be my pride that gets scuffed in missing my personal one. But I realized yesterday that there are very few things I wouldn’t gladly sacrifice to get to experience these last few events with my son. Next year, he’ll spend more time at college than at home, and I guarantee I won’t look back on these two days in April and wish I’d spent more time on my book.