Today I am at the AFC Championship game with my husband and daughter. I gave her my ticket and hung out at the CBS Scene while they went into the game. I was happy at the bar, complete with wine and sweet potato fries in front a big screen. Three girls came and sat next to me, joined by two young boys standing behind them. Throughout the whole first quarter they talked nonstop in my right ear without a clue there's a huge game going on. (Kind of hard to do at the CBS Scene just outside the stadium.)
I moved to a nice quiet table and before I could sit down, four people came in, ushering a crying girl, and sat at the table next to me. My attention was immediately taken away from the game, because, of course, I was concerned about the girl. I'm always interested in people's stories and listened carefully, but I couldn't quite figure out what was wrong.
By half-time the score was 13-7 Patriots so it looked like the Patriots were digging in. The people with the girl got up to leave, but her friend sat down next to me and apologized for invading my game space and explained that it was her friend's first NFL game, she lost her glasses waking to the Stadium, can't see anything and is very upset. They never even went in to their seats. I felt bad for her and told her I hoped her friend felt better. They all left and I returned my attention to the game after the half, relieved that the girl wasn't hurt.
(Here is where we change days and tenses, because this was yesterday's post, written at the game, but because of crowded air waves, would not post.)
As we all know the game completely spiraled downward in the third quarter. The fourth quarter was no better, but the girl and her friend came back and sat with me. We exchanged stories and cheered up the girl. Now I was glad to have my attention taken away from the big screen, because as the news reporters are saying on TV, "there's no joy in New England this morning."
After the game, my husband and daughter joined us. It was a solemn time, but, hey, these things happen. We can't always win. There's much to be gained by taking a loss now and then. Everything happens for a reason – right from the Pats loss, to the poor girl's ruined day because of lost glasses. Loss teaches us to appreciate that which we still have left. Loss teaches us about letting go of yesterday and focusing on today.
And so, as another day goes by, the wonderful thing about time is that there's always next year, always another chance, and, most of all, there's always more hope, and….I have written.
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