Tomorrow at 4pm at the Glendale Sports Complex, where we've had many futball (soccer for all you yanks :) games headed by Coach Jerry, something special will take place.
Some 37 young boys have volunteered their time on this long weekend to play a friendly game to honer their coach. All of these boys have at one point or another been coached by Gagik. The soccer organization and some of the coaches who have worked with him have put this together, I'm so touched by this event.
It will be a difficult day for all of us, as I step on that field, all the memories of past games will come into mind, the way he would pace back and fourth on the side lines yelling out instructions, and the post game "high fives" between the boys and him.... Arman will be participating in this game as well, and I'm sure it will be an emotional game for him too, but I know he will play with his heart for dad.
I will be without my camera tomorrow (I've left my battery charger in Mexico, so till they ship it back to me... I'm stuck with no toy), this may be a good thing.. I love the game with a passion and I'll be sitting on my chair, just enjoying this special game tomorrow. Watching the little faces that have grown into young teen boys, playing the game that coach has given so many pointers on.... I know he's touched their lives in so many ways in the past years, and tomorrow their young heart will touch our lives forever. I'm so grateful for that.
The following weekend will mark the beginning of the new season, it will be the first in eleven years which we will not take part in. We loved this time of the year, a game every Saturday, which meant a late Friday night for the coach. I can just see him now, sitting in the balcony, going over line-up card and game plan, rearranging the players over and over again. He loved this game, and he loved coaching, I can honestly say it was one of his greatest passions in life. He'll be enjoying the game tomorrow as well, except he will probably have the best seat in the house.
I'll post the details of the game and the images on my mind from tomorrow.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend...
love...peace...joy...
My heart will be with you and the boys......
ReplyDeletePeace
S
What a lovely thing to do! Enjoy your day.
ReplyDeleteSomething special indeed. I look forward to hearing how it goes. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteoh wow he was truly loved by many players and he touched many lives...have a blessed day!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to know that so many other people have seen what you saw in Gag...his wonderful heart, his wise counsel, his amazing focus as a critical thinker, his love for children, and his love for the game.
ReplyDeletePeople come and go, but some people stay with us forever. It sounds like Gag was definitely one of those people. He will live in the hearts and minds of all these kids and other coaches. To them, he was family.