Letting go
Being a mom is scary. My son has wanted to play football since he was 5 years old. His dad was an all-state quarter back who went on to play in college. My son has loved playing catch since before he could walk. (almost) Football is in his blood. Protecting my son is in mine.
When he was young I laid down the law. “No contact football until Middle School.” I became a flag football coach. My son and his friends learned the fundamentals of the game without getting pummeled.
Last year my son started middle school. What? Already? Somehow he never got signed up for football. I was happy to watch him learn ultimate frisbee.
This year my son’s friend started contact football, there was no excuse, other than fear. And there are good reasons for the fear, he got a mild concussion the first day. My husband took many hard hits throughout his career and he is okay, but it is my job to protect. If my son breaks a leg, sprains a wrist, jams a finger, that’s one thing, but the head, his mind? Now that is extra precious.
My son sat out for several days and when he returned to the field I watched practice from the sideline. He smiled, moved into the huddle with focus, then on the snap, dropped back in the pocket and let the ball fly with the grace of a seasoned vet. When the ball was tossed back to him to start the next down, he pulled it down with one hand and cradled it with ease . He was at home.
If he takes another bad hit this year, my husband and I will make him sit out the season, but for now I have to let […]
Books, basketball & blessings
Books & basketball. For me there isn’t a better combination, at least I wouldn’t have thought so until I set out on a small book tour this summer. I read excerpts from my book, Back on the Court, at Washington locations from Leavenworth (A Book for All Seasons & the Library) across the state to Aunties Bookstore in Spokane where after my reading I watched a lot of basketball (It was Hoopfest weekend). I met some amazing people, including two people that helped save my life twenty years ago. Books, basketball & blessings. One definition of blessing is: the act of a person who bestows good. Because of the good of these people, and many others, I am here today and I can enjoy my books and basketball, and count my blessings.
Thank you Bruce and Jacquie.
Take a moment
“What is something you’ve done that you are proud of? How did it make you feel?” This was a question posed to young campers and high school coaches at a recent basketball camp where I incorporated journal writing & goal setting. Not a bad thought to ponder at any age…
Try something new
My friend and I escaped for the weekend to write. We woke, ate and drove to the sun to set pen to paper. Our writing warm up, “sea air & bird poop”, became…a poem?
The dock sways. I close my eyes. The salty air surrounds my body. Slightly cool it breaks the heat of the morning sun.
Coos and Cackles. Hums from unseen pigeons. Remnants of their presence on the dock by my feet. Like paint across rusty nails and deeply grooved wood.
Water sparkling all around. No camera in hand, I take a snapshot in my mind. Heaven
Sometimes it’s fun to try something new…
Meet Sonya
Meet Sonya
Sonya Elliott’s memoir, Back on the Court: A Young Woman’s Triumphant Return to Life, Love & Basketball, is her story of finding hope in the wake of tragedy after she and her fiancé were hit by a train. She blogs about writing, basketball, and life and is currently working on a Young Adult Novel and a Non-Fiction Coaching book. Stories of her career as a fashion model are woven through her memoir, as both the Soloflex and Easy Spirit Shoes commercials were filmed during that time period, and this unique and intriguing business continues to be a part of her life.
Sonya played basketball at Eastern Washington University and was a starter for the Big Sky Champion team that went to the 1987 NCAA tournament. She coached for almost 25 years and was voted Seattle Times Coach of the Year, Seattle Officials Women’s Basketball Association Coach of the Year, and twice voted Metro League Coach of the Year. She loves the game of basketball and is thankful, not only for her husband and kids but for her ability to continue to get back on the court.
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