Evening all. Been nearly 48 hours out of touch so I’ll try to sum things up and leave my conversations with all y’all for the next MMP, since I’m over 100 messages behind. Short and sweet, had some fun, had some drama, and probably added 5lbs to my waist (they do feed us volunteers pretty well).
Anyway, after refereeing 3 game on Friday, I had none scheduled for Saturday, so it was mostly sitting around the building we were working out of (we called it Soccer Central) helping where I could and taking walks around the fields every hour just to do something. The folks actually running the thing finally had me take a golf cart (we rent 4-5 of them to get around the fields fast) and go pick up folks who were parking about 2 blocks away because the lots next to the fields were overflowing…so I got a 3-minute teaching session in driving golf carts and was sent on my way…and damn, that was fun! Talking with folks, pulling up next to cars that were parking, taking folks back down to their cars…I was doing something and helping out and that made me feel real good.
Until…
Couple of 60±something ladies (one with a cane, forgot to ask if her name was Jane) asked for a ride over to a field nearby and I was happy to do so. They got on the back bench (it was a small golf cart with one front seat and one on the back of the cart), I told them to hold on, and the cart jumped forward (if you’ve never driven one, the brake comes off when you press the gas but then it takes a little bit to actually start moving) kinda like when you let out a clutch (for us old folks). Next I heard was some bumps and a cry to “stop” and yep, both ladies had fallen off the cart! The one with the cane was fine, but the other had the wind knocked out of her and was lying on her back on the ground. Right about then I almost froze, so scared that someone I was doing good for had been hurt by my actions. Fortunately, one of the organizers was there, he got things settled and called for a Medic (we had a couple on-site), and after a couple of minutes the lady was able to get up and walked to the field apparently no worse for wear. Needless to say I apologized profusely and was shaken up enough that I retired from cart driving for the rest of the day. So that made Saturday interesting…
Sunday I was selected to be Assistant Ref for a semi-final game at 8:30am so of course it had it’s share of drama, too, with a team getting a penalty kick to tie it (the Center Ref made a error in applying the rules, I mentioned it to him before the kick was taken but he went with his interpretation (his call). The team converted to tie and went on to win the game in overtime. The losing coach was more gracious than I would have been but if he had filed a Protest, it might have reversed the game and taken him to the Championship–but I guess he didn’t. So some drama there.
Finally finished after watching a couple of final games and helping close up shop, got home about 3pm and while the lawn could probably stand mowage, it will wait for a couple of days as I’m planning to be a homebody for a bit.
Like I said, over 100 messages have been looked at but I have not the inclination to comment on them, so yays. boos, hugs, tears and crossed appendages whenever and wherever needed. Take care all and I’ll resume normal programming on Moanday.