Leaving the country involves deciding what to take and what to leave behind. Experiences can’t be chosen either way, they stay here without us and keep happening. One of the things I’ll miss is LakeMary’s Special Olympics team. This weekend I’ve been on what will be my last Kansas Special Olympics trip for at least a year. It was a great tournament, and Bob and I managed to get a handful of pictures of the events. Some are up now, others are being uploaded as I type this, hopefully they’ll all be there by the time I press “Publish.”
I knew when I boarded the bus this would be it, but now that it’s done the finality has struck me. It’s not for good, but I’ll miss the guys a lot while we’re gone, and I’ll misses the coaches as well. The one time in person today seems somehow insufficient, so goodbye again you guys. Judy, Jeff, Bob, Lindy, Carolyn, former coaches like Tracy, Greg, Shawna, and anybody who has temporarily slipped my mind, thanks for the good times, the hard work at the tournaments, the Carlos O’Kelly’s after, and the sunflower seeds, bonfires, and shared beers in between. I love all of you, and I thank you in advance for all the times yet you’ll remind MB for me that he’s a punk.