Last First Basketball Game

Today, in the midst of despair in our house, basketball season came just at the right time. Carter went off to school in a fog from yesterday’s election. We hardly slept much in our house. I awoke at 5:15 and did what I do best to keep my mind off unpleasantries, I cooked.  
As the day went on normalcy returned with the routine of living. Some people I know were happy, but most were in a similar shock. In the end we are still Americans and will mostly likely remain here and do our best to make this our best country, although the bar that measures what that is is different for us all.
Despite the exhaustion from so little sleep and too much emotion in the last twenty four hours I got a second wind because Carter had the first game of her senior basketball season. It was held at the Durham School of the Arts, not a regular opponent. Gathering with the family of parents that make up the “old guard” and welcoming those whose daughters are new to the team brought me a warm and happy feeling.
Carter, as one of the captains this year, went to center court with her co’s to meet the refs and opponents and do whatever the captains do before the game starts. Then the game got under way. Carter has loved being a captain and working with the younger players. She may not be the best player, but she makes a good coach and spiritual leader.
The DA team was fabulous. They got out to an early start and held on for the whole game. Every player got time on the court and the parents were thrilled to get to cheer their girls on. It was the perfect way to take my mind off the issues in the bigger world. It was a world I could know, and count on and feel good about. The best part is it was a world my daughter loves and makes her happy.
If we all can make our little parts of the world good then we have a chance to make the greater world happy. We can’t fight. We have to talk, listen and work for all that is good. I was sorry for the other team that the score was so lopsided. I hope that they felt good about themselves for a good play, or an improved shot here or there. We don’t need a world of losers and winners, but one of people that are just doing their best to make things better.
I could not have asked for a better time to have Carter’s last first game of her high school basketball season. Now we have to move on to make tomorrow better again.