Paco soccer game. UC Davis football. I am tired but all is well.
I really enjoy watching Paco play soccer. Three seasons ago, in San José, he was outrun by everyone on the team. So he learned to be a good defender. His team lost for the first time today and we were all so involved. Go, go, go! Every kid sits out a quarter. The quarter Paco was out of the game the other team scored. Twice. I admire that he is the least afraid of the ball. He steals it, then passes it to the good scorer. He is six and loves being part of a team. He confessed tonight that he wants to score. The coach tries to set him up, but then all the boys go to where they are skilled. Paco steals and passes, the two best forwards shoot. I like to think of it as good teamwork.
We headed to the Aggie game today. It was pouring rain and the stadium half-empty. It was still great. They lost, and none of the Aggie fans were mad, they all just felt bad for the team. We took one of Paco’s friends with us and the two boys, rolling around the grassy end zone, was put on the video scoreboard.
Danny the super safety had left tickets for us. We had regular tickets too. Danny’s tickets were in the family section. Paco went over there and quietly went up to our Kate. What he did not realize was that at that moment, Kate was texting me, asking, “where are you?” I was chasing Lemon through the empty wet bleachers and Paco was behind Kate, working up the nerve to tap her. Kate turned around and beamed at Paco. He seems to be a legend in the circle of Danny Hart. I was stopped and introduced as Paco’s mom. I was treated like a rock star’s mom.
Lemon kept trying to climb over the rails, down about 8 feet to the field. I tried to get a UC policeman to get mad at Lemon to get the child to stop climbing. Lemon threw his celebratory beads over the edge to the field. The cop gave them back. I had to chastise a cop. I had to say, “please be meaner and more stern.” It did not work. I could not get the cop to tell Lemon to stop climbing over the guard rails. Though from that point, one of the staffers had a little TV on the field where we could watch the Giants’ baseball game. At the halftime, as I walked up, I told Danny’s friends. They all hovered over the guard rail to see how it was going.
In the line for food, I had a cranky Lemon and everyone was checking their phones for baseball scores. We were having philosophical discussions (the line took a while) about the game. And then we realized that the Giants losing tonight is actually good for the economy. From the stadium employees, to the players, to the clothing makers, travel services, TV ads, more money will stimulate the economy with each game played. It made me wonder how much money changed hands with every game. So really, it must be good for the economy if the Giants lose another game. It would bring the games back to San Francisco and generate more income? How many people work at the stadium, just because of the series? How many taxi drivers in each city are working more? Restaurants? The extra jobs for so many, that is not nothing. Every penny counts these days. So yes, the Pollyanna can find a bright side to any loss by the Giants.
I am tired and I hate these insipid side effects, but today, the day was busy and fun. The game was rainy and cold. We all had to change after the game. Paco is sleeping next to me now. None of us can heat up enough. But the fun, that was completely worth it. I only mentioned once that I had had cancer (to a PG&E rep at a booth). For me, that is rare. Not once did I say brain cancer. I know it sounds silly, but that is a growing moment for me.
Paco and Steve went to the monthly parent poker-party. Lemon was an overtired mess. So he stayed home with me. Paco asked to sleep with us. On the weekends, we usually say yes. I told him I needed to use my laptop in bed. He said, “I love watching you write.” I find that particularly complimentary.
