Three days ago my oldest daughter Lauren made a spectacular save in a pre-season game. She is a senior and plays goalkeeper for Juniata College. She made the diving save with her left hand hitting the ball away just before she hit the ground, left hand first. Lauren felt a momentary sharp pain in the first finger of her left hand. Her training overrode her feelings. She snapped to her feet knowing that a loose ball of the net meant another shot. She made another save.
When the ball was clear of the goal she yelled to the coach that her first finger was out of her glove. She took the glove off then yelled to the coach that she needed a substitute. Part of the first bone of her first finger was sticking through the skin. At that point the game stopped and she walked off the field to get ice, ibuprofen and a ride to the hospital.
Lauren called me on the way to the hospital telling me what happened. She was clearly on the edge of tears, but being brave. she said she hoped for pins instead of plates and screws because she could play sooner. It turned out she needs plates and screws and will have the surgery on Tuesday. Later that evening after she had the X-rays she said, "It's two breaks. My broken bone count is Seven."
I am very proud of her. If there is any way she can play at the end of the season, I am sure she will.
The drawbacks of Army life and having a family are obvious, but on the other side of the ledger, my kids grew up (and are growing up) with Army stories as part of their lives. They all lived with my deployment last year. They want to be brave like their Dad and like all the soldiers I tell them about. CS Lewis said what you pretend to be, you will eventually become.
Lewis is right.
