Greatwood Packers Football Jared Game 2

Last week was a tough week for our family. Brett had an infection in both his ears and sinuses and missed two days of school. He also missed two football practices as a result. Lori took him to see a doctor on Thursday morning and got him on antibiotics. On Thursday evening Lori dropped Jared off at football practice so she could get back with Brett and Ryan at home and the plan was for me to go watch Jared’s as soon as I could get there. It is even tougher to juggle everything with my new work location which includes a much longer commute. When I got to football practice Jared had his pads off and ice on his shoulder. While running to the sideline for a drink of water, Jared slipped and fell and landed on his shoulder. Jared is a tough kid and he was crying. I suspected that he broke his collarbone so we loaded him in the car and took him home. Lori took him to the Emergency Room and it turned out that he did break his collar bone. This may be a season ending injury for Jared depending on how quickly he heals. So, he will not be playing football at least for a while. He did go on Friday to have his picture taken with the team. That will be one to remember. We also went to watch his team play football. Jared sat on the sideline with his team to offer-up support even though he could not play.

We were playing the Cobras at Stafford High School. It is a nice field with a large stadium. Jared was bummed out that he was not able to play in the big stadium. This is a picture of the Greatwood Packers Fans at the stadium. Lori, Ryan and Brett are at the bottom of the picture with some friends from Church. Their daughters Greatwood Packers Cheerleaders.

This is Jared sitting in the chair I set-up for him on the sideline. He is looking relaxed.

Jared relaxing on the sideline. I think for future games I am going to make him wear shoes and socks. Once we got there I was worried about Jared getting his feet stepped on while he was wearing flip-flops.
Jared’s team in action. They did very well and this week it was an offensive battle with quite a bit of scoring.

One of Jared’s teammates running in for a touchdown. Despite a valiant effort, Jared’s team lost 26 to 20. Bummer!

Jared cheering his team on.

Jared back in his chair taking it easy. I think he had the best seat in the house. I would have liked to sit next to him there in the shade. Lori and Ryan trying to cool-off during the game.

For the 2nd game there were two injured players on the sideline. Jared’s injured teammate broke his toe when he dropped a kitchen drawer on it. Here are the two injured players on the side lines. The other player's father was doing the chains for Jared's game last week. It appears that running the chains may have something to do with your son getting injured. I am not sure I want to volunteer to run the chains again.

We have heard about the dangers of playing football and now some have commented that they will not let their kids every play football because it is too dangerous. I would like to point out that while Jared broke his collarbone at football practice, he did NOT break it playing football. He was running to the sideline to get a drink of water. Something like that could have happened playing soccer, basketball or baseball. The Orthopedic Surgeon said that more kids get injured playing basketball than football because of all the ankle and knee injuries. Life is risky business. In order to do anything in this life you must take risks.

Thought for the day:

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk to failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.
Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
The pessimist complains about the wind;
The optimist expects it to change;
And the realist adjusts the sails.
- William Arthur Ward