tinysharks

Damn It Felt Good to be an O'Sleeve

After 20 some odd weeks, its finally over
Forgive me if I sound relieved
Thats not my intention at all
We knew it would though
End, that is
As anything with a beginning must do

Before this past May, the last time I played kickball I was probably 10 years old
Last year, I spent many Sundays sitting on one of the benches in the park, behind the backstop
Or I would sit under the tree out in right field
Never really speaking to anyone except of course when Commish would come over and ask if I wanted to play
I never played
Of course I wanted to
But I just didnt
So I sat and watched

The season ended and my Sundays reverted back to episodes of The Simpsons and Arrested Development
Winter came and went and I posted a bulletin on here saying that I wanted to play kickball
Chi and Jesse responded
Invited me to join their team
So I joined
I was quiet at first
Shy
Between our games I would wander off to one of the benches
Or go back and sit beneath the tree in right field
Over the next few months I slowly got to know my team
Got to know the players on the other teams
I started to hang out more and more with them
Walking around the neighborhood it went from wordless recognition to stopping and talking
I began looking forward to Sundays
Thats how the season progressed

After we lost our second game yesterday, thus eliminating us from the playoffs, the season was effectively over
I ran to get food and came back to sit and watch some more of the games
By the time I got back, all but one game had been played
I sat in the grass with some of my team and with the others that come to play and hang out and not just play and leave when their games are done
As we sat there, the eliminated and those about to be eliminated, someone brought up a good point
What do we do now?
On Sundays that is
Go back to Sunday night television?
Im sure I could find something else to do
But why would I want to?
What else could compare?
Sure
I went through weeks where this whole thing frustrated me
Where I just didnt want to do it anymore
But that comes with any long term commitment
You question why you bother
Why do this when I could be doing that?
Why put myself through this?
Twisted ankles
Scraping knees
Ruined pants
Sore backs
Pulled hamstrings
Sliding with my keys in my pocket and cutting my legs open
Not being able to stand up Monday mornings

After a while the last game of the night ended
We started to clean up our mess
Someone convinced Jesse to retire his shoes to one of the light poles
We all stood around taking turns trying to get his shoes stuck
All to no avail
He had to climb up there and get them stuck himself
The evening ended with someone sticking a lit bottle rocket in his back pocket

Its over now

Im not going to lie
I was sad that it ended

Winter kickball anyone?