Hey there, readers!
It’s Gretchen, back with another story for Friday, November 4th, 2022.
Last weekend my brother’s family hosted our annual mass birthday celebration; we have a rash of late-October birthdays, including his.
He and his wife and kids live on a beautiful piece of property about an hour north, so we don’t see each other as often as I’d like. My niece and nephew transform between visits, and the same is true with our kids. One time we measured, and in fact, one of our boys had grown several inches during the in-between
But, last weekend, we’d planned ahead. We’d gotten the date on the calendars and stayed healthy. Even more, it was nearly seventy degrees outside. We had availability, health, and weather. In Minnesota, we call that a hat trick.
Oh, and also, I was breaking out the new pair of buttery Red Wing boots I’d bought. That will become important later.
As an extended family, we aren’t terribly formal. We eat buffet style. Hair is typically combed, but styling is optional. We were all in jeans or sweatpants. And so when my sister-in-law suggested a game of flag football in the front yard, there was no reason to say no. And why would we? Our boys love to play. My husband, too. And their kids were raring to go. Plus, did I mention the weather?
Here’s the thing: I’m not good at group competition. Be it sports or cards or Monopoly, my brain can’t turn off its need to do one thing: WIN. I’m not a sore loser—mostly. It’s just that, while I play, I have to regularly remind myself to calm the fork down.
The game was four on four. My brother- and sister-in-law, 9 yo nephew, and our youngest son (16) were the red team. My 11 yo niece, 17 yo son, my husband and I were blue. The first play, all I saw was a blur of bodies.
The second play, I used the “scream offense.” Essentially, I hollered and yelled so loud no one wanted to come near me.
The third play, I landed face-down.
The fourth through umpteenth play, I landed on my knees, or butt, or hands, or gravel. At one point, I got bonked on the head with the ball.
I could not stay upright. My boots had no grip on the grass. And my brain did not know how to *not* behave like a barbarian on the field. Once, my nephew fell in front of me and I’m lucky I had the reflexes to jump over him, lest I pop his head off as I ran.
I’m in fairly good shape. I exercise regularly and love to bike, in particular. But within 30 minutes of this game, I was hobbling. I had to hit the sidelines. I offered to keep playing, but my knees couldn’t take any more hits.
I said, “I can play if we walk, instead.”
My nephew vetoed it. “LAME!”
Lame was right. When I took my jeans off that night, both knees were black and blue. The next day, I could barely walk. Even three days later I was wondering what I’d done to myself.
But what I’d done to myself was to simply be myself. Of all people, you’d think my brother would know I’m terrible at games. He knew I never made it all the way to the finish line.
Oh, wait. I think I just figured something out…
Lots of in-person events coming up over the next few months, though apologies to my non-Minnesota fans, as they’re all regional.
Saturday, Nov. 12th at 1:00 I’ll be in Rush City in partnership with Scout & Morgan Books in Cambridge and Spare Room Reads
Monday, Nov. 14th at 5:30 I’ll be doing a live event at Fitgers Books in Duluth
Saturday, Nov. 19th at 10 am I’ll be at the Hutchinson Public Library
Events are all listed on my website, GretchenAnthony.com. Come say hi and bring a friend.
Friday Story for November 4, 2022