the last game

 My grandson played his last official soccer game last night. I remember when he began as a little boy and watched him progress through the ranks. As a senior this was his last year. Another milestone has been reached. He has no intention of playing in college, perhaps continuing his officiating role, but not as a player. He is a certified official and has been doing that alongside his playing. I would like to see him continue in that pursuit. Yes I feel a bit of sadness for the whole deal, it's that sadness Grandparents understand so well having experienced those feelings before. You want to see them grow, spread their wings and fly, but you really don't want them to leave the nest. Time waits for no man the saying goes and it becomes ever more evident every day. I am reminded of the first time he rode his bicycle from his home to mine, by himself, unescorted and unsupervised. I could see the pride, the excitement of that freedom was evident in his eyes. It appeared once again when he got that drivers license. Milestones indeed. First dates, dances and heartbreaks, I have seen them all. Oh yeah, I am thinking about Mark, my grandson and somehow feel sorry for myself. 

 I'm going to try to put together a collage of pictures from his soccer career. I have hundreds to choose from. He has trophy's and medals galore. He was on teams that won championships and teams that got the participation awards. Most of his career he played goal keeper but changed to defender in his senior year. I saw him play baseball and lacrosse. Neither of those sports stirred a passion in him. No, its' been soccer. And Grandpa didn't know squat about soccer, now I know slightly more than that but far from being an expert. Never did get that offside call right. Well, no matter I always claimed the official made the wrong call when it went against my grandson, and the right one when it favored us. And now it's time to put the stadium seats in the attic, pack the sports blankets away and just remember. We had some exciting games and some heartbreakers. But Mark remained #21 his whole career. Well at least through his high school career he was able to retain that number. #21, Mark the shark we called him. This year his teammates took to calling him Pop-Pop, he says because of his beard. Whatever he was called he was #21. If I had my way the number would be retired! But it could be I am just a bit biased, it's a possibility.