The Beloved Returns

Tonight Carter had a late basketball game. Since it was an all girls night there were very few spectators. I easily got a parking place. As I entered the empty lobby of the gym I saw, far off at the other end, the familiar face of Angie Roberts, the mother of DA graduate and best all time basketball player, Liz Roberts. What a fabulous surprise.
Angie and the whole Roberts family were the most supportive and kindest of basketball parents. If I did not know what was going on all I had to do was turn to Angie or her husband Bennet to get the low down. Seeing Angie in the gym again made me so happy. I went to hug her and congratulate her on Liz.
Liz, despite being the absolute best basketball player DA ever produced had decided to pass on schools that wanted her for basketball and instead opted for the big school life of UNC Chapel Hill. It was understandable that it was the whole college experience she was looking for. It was so sad for those of us who got to watch her play game after game last season that it was going to be the end of her basketball career.
Then something happened. Just recently the UNC coaches got wind of Liz and invited her to try out for the team. In true Liz Roberts humility she could not imagine that she had a chance. But she did. Liz was invited to join the UNC women’s Basketball team. Now she was at her dream school, plying D-1 basketball.
As I was talking to Angie about all the exciting news about Liz, she said, “You can talk to her about it, she is right in the gym.” It was so great to see her and give her a hug myself. Liz and Angie stayed for the whole game, which was rough in parts, even though Carter did score.  
After the game it was like old home week with the coaches Krista and Robert talking to us after the game with Liz and Angie. Life has to move on, and we have welcomed the new faces, but damn I miss the Roberts. At least Liz is just over at Chapel Hill and I can always buy a ticket to watch her play.