“Who’s the real winner,” I asked Graham and Evan as we pulled into the driveway after a recent soccer match, “The person who scores the most points, or the person who has the most fun?”
Both of them had performed very well that evening. Graham played he best he had all season with two great breakaways and good ball control. Evan scored an unassisted goal, and made several fantastic saves when he played keeper.
They were, nonetheless, hyperfocused on winning, wanted to know who’d won their game, and what they had to do to be sure they won all the remaining games.
We don’t actually keep score in their league.
“Most points,” Graham answered at precisely the same time Evan said, “Most fun.”
“Well,” I told them, pausing for suspense, “it’s kind of a poser, but why don’t you think about it.”
“It’s more fun to have fun,” Graham told me with the authority of a school principal, and I wondered if I should continue to let him hang out around my father, who is, in fact, a retired school principal.
Still, I think he’s right, so that’s the attitude I’m packin for Chicago.
My only other concern is how to handle the weather that they’re predicting in the Windy City: 35ยบ F and rainy.
Is that shorts or tights weather for 26.2? Long sleeves? Vest?
I feel like I’m getting ready for a date, trying to pick my best outfit.
Ah, well. It’s the attitude that counts, and I’m gonna be having too much fun to be cold or to worry about whether I look good.