Day 335

And so another season of sports begins. Basketball has arrived, my son's favorite of the year. He drug out a pair of shorts and his basketball shoes, and was ready to go a full hour before we needed to leave.

We play in a rec league, but one where I feel he gets challenged enough. He's had the same coach now for at least 4 years, maybe 5. He's a great coach, one the boys look forward to working with and for- something that as a parent I am very thankful for.

One by one, they filed into the gymnasium, giving each other high fives and shoulder bumps. Most are familiar faces, having crossed paths at some point before now. Some see each other at school every day, some haven't seen the other since the end of football, and there are a few new faces introduced into the mix.

The parents have their own reunion, catching up on what's new with each other and our families since the last time we met on a field or in a gym. One boy came straight to basketball from lacrosse practice, and walked over to deposit his cup in his mom's lap. And it wasn't his drinking cup... We giggle about how the boys are at what I described as the "gangly" stage- all elbows and knees, with long arms or legs that the rest of their body hasn't caught up with yet.

The first few rounds of drills were full of cobwebs and rust, but I think that's to be expected. By the end of the hour they were starting to get their groove, and you could see the disappointment on their faces when the coach told them it was time for practice to end.

Tonight's picture represents working the kinks out of something you haven't done in a while, and reuniting with friends and teammates. Not everything is "like riding a bike", but with a little elbow grease and some good coaching, it doesn't take long to get the cogs turning again.