run penelope run

the middle school track meet was scheduled for thursday in jefferson, georgia, at 3:30pm and would last until 8:30pm. i spent monday through thursday dreading it, so when i received a text message thursday around lunchtime saying that the meet had been cancelled due to to rain, i was so ecstatic that i failed to notice that the text went on to say that the meet had been rescheduled for the following night (friday night, for those of you only skimming).

so when i got up friday morning and my son informed me that the meet was that afternoon, let's just say it soured my mood. my mood is generally good on fridays as friday evenings at my house are known as "beer friday" because i like to have a couple of friends over to drink beer and complain about things like track meets, etc.

and for you to fully understand my disdain for track (feel free to insert whatever other kid activity of overblown importance here), i need to explain that neither of my kids is athletic and asperger's isn't really associated with a lot of sports successes. (in fact, i'm pretty sure i've got some blog entries to back this up). consequently, i suppose, i think parents today have fucking lost it when it comes to their childrens' athletics.

friday, the day itself, was rather miserable, for reasons that are not funny and therefore not suitable for this blog. and i had to cancel beer friday so i could drive to jefferson- which even my gps resisted and referred to as "unmapped" territory. i did eventually find the meet and sat alone in the bleachers among cheering parents, restless children and the clacking of expensive track shoes on metal.

i watched one couple, in particular, who cheered for their budding star who i will call penelope (to protect her precious identity). penelope ran a full mile - that's four whole laps - around the track and finished well ahead of her competitors. her parents screamed and cheered each time she came around and at the finish just beamed with pride and excitement. the mom said to her other, younger child, "can you believe she beat everyone else?" finally, after a painfully long wait, penelope was able to join them, where she was met with "hey, track star" and congratulatory high fives and hugs. it was a beautiful scene and all i could think was "enjoy your moment penelope, because in a few short years, you could run a marathon backwards and no one will give a shit." something tells me penelope won't see it coming - she's been conditioned, like all of them (mine included) to expect the moon and more. but i kept all this to myself and let penelope have her moment and not long after, i gathered up my middle school track participant and we happily headed to the car. i took it as a good sign when my gps suddenly kicked in and knew the way home.