All You Need is Love---and Music.

URI weekend: Year 7.

My weekend started off Thursday. Insane packing, food shopping, and you know, chopping all of my hair off. I couldn’t sleep that night, because I was SO excited. You would think after seven years of these sleep-deprived weekends would eventually kill the excitement. But it’s still there. Yes, I had to deal with some asshats, but this weekend is always so rewarding for me. 

Stephen dropped me off early Friday morning. I was already sleep-deprived from not sleeping so well the night before, but I was all business. Got my athletes, set up my room, packed my bag, and then we were off to the track. 

My athletes this weekend were awesome. It was so very strange, because they were all so independent. I actually had some down time, and it ended up working out because there were issues with another coach, and I ended up on having to keep an eye on those athletes too. I was surprisingly okay with this, but the athletes have known me for seven years, and thankfully, felt comfortable coming to ask me for help. 

One of my athletes ended up taking a fall and earning himself some gnarly rink rash in his race, and ended up not coming up Saturday. My other athletes were fine being with their friends by themselves, and would check in with me periodically. One stayed mostly with me, while the other walked around. It was nice. 

It wasn’t by far the best weekend I’ve ever had, but it was worth it. Seeing the excitement, the smiles, and just being around some amazing people made everything just…be okay. Shit may happen in my life, but this community…it’s been a part of my life for over ten years. It has it’s challenges, but the rewards I reap is what keeps me pushing through. and I’m so grateful for it.

 Let’s go, year 8. I’m ready for ya.