When I was thinking of words to describe my wife in our marriage, athletic was near the top of the list. As I’ve written the other entries I’ve shuffled a few of the memories around, but there is one athletic memory I can only share with her. Still, this being the internets and tube wide web, I can share with you my wife’s athleticism.
The wife was never a four sport star growing up. My parents always encouraged me to play sports, and somehow I was blessed with natural athleticism. Lord knows my parents weren’t huge fans or participants in sports growing up. As I was dipped in the gene pool athleticism sort of stuck like the toilet paper on your shoe in a public restroom.
When we were dating my wife appreciated these skills I had. My body was chiseled, my swagger upright and my chest broad. As the years have progressed in our marriage it’s funny how things have changed. That body of mine lives on in photographs, because we all know it’s not here now.
What has happened is that my wife has become the athlete in the family. Early in our marriage she didn’t really show an inkling to participate in sports. My daughter and I had to drag her out to kick the ball around, to compete in our driveway football games and to stick around after basketball practice to shoot around. My, how time has changed things.
The wife is now playing soccer and tennis full time. Hell, if there were a women’s recreational league for basketball she’d do that, too. Her skill level in the sports has increased so much that when I watch her play soccer she almost always scores. In tennis she’s always pushing the envelope in the level she competes at. And the best, the ultimate, is when we go to the YMCA to work out, her preferred cardio exercise is playing around the world on the basketball court. Stunning.
Her athleticism is an inspiration for the whole family. From grades 2 through 8 I coached my daughter in a myriad of sports. I was such a coaching addict I would coach teams my daughter wasn’t on. When she entered high school my involvement with sports of any kind stopped cold. This is where the wife took over. Captain of her soccer team, secretary of her tennis league and athletic inspiration to her family. Does it get any better?
Today’s Gift: My wife has been bugging me to join her tennis league. She has a thought that we could dominate the league or somehow make fools of ourselves, I am not sure which. I will tell her that I promise to play in her fall league with her. Look out mixed doubles teams of the world, we’re coming for you.