good night, sweet dreams

I saw this piece of equipment roll down Landsdowne Avenue Monday night as I left the field house after our Men's soccer team's first game of the 2018 season.

THE crane. 

One so big it had to be rented.

I knew what two jobs were ahead  for Tuesday.

First: 

The stadium light poles would be going up. 

Four of them. 

When the stadium was built Bill (and others) made sure the foundations were set in place and groundwork done so that one day stadium lights would be a reality. If you look closely, between the two orange ladders, you can see one of the concrete forms that have been sitting ready to go to work for 10 years. I knew where I would be Tuesday.

 

I had a meeting Tuesday right after chapel. I came home to get a cup of coffee and got caught up writing a blog post and didn't make it down to the field until 1:30. I hoped I wasn't too late. My heart skipped a beat when I pulled into the parking spot. Things looked different. I counted. One, two, at least three of the light poles were already up! I couldn't really tell where the crane was sitting. 

(My depth perception and sense of distance is less than stellar.) 

I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw it was in position to raise the final pole.

The second job would soon start.

The one I definitely did not want to miss.

Raising the flagpole.

This is Orris.
He's been doing this work for 30 years.
I introduced myself to him.
I told him the flagpole was in honor of Bill.
I thanked him for coming.

I did not introduce myself to the other crew members.

I watched, in awe, as they did their job.
Carefully.
Skillfully.

And cried quietly when they were done.

I pulled myself together and prepared to grab a late lunch at 3:20, before soccer practice. As I was leaving words of possibility were quietly spoken. 

As I sat at practice I received a text:

Look this way.

I looked and replied:

Hold up, I am on my way.

I was able to see and video the first time the flag was raised.

Guess what.

I cried again.

And waited a few minutes, pulling myself together before heading back to practice.

I drew one final, deep cleansing breath and felt a hand on my back.

I turned.

There in front of me was one of our football players.

He wrapped me up in a hug.

As he stepped away I realized there was a whole line of them waiting to hug me.

Many thanked me.

Some congratulated me on the project being completed.

So many more tears.

Once again I needed a few minutes.

Eyes down, I headed toward the soccer practice field.

And heard voices:

"mom! turn around! go back!"

I looked up.

Both the men's and women's teams were headed my way. 

Two of my girls grabbed my hands, then put their arms around me and walked beside me, as tears once again gathered.

We circled around the flagpole.

Coach talked about Bill's impact on him and the school.

One of my boys prayed.

More hugs, more tears.

Back to practice.

Last evening I got a text from one of my boys who graduated in May asking if he could come and visit for a bit. When it started to get dark he told me they were going to turn the stadium lights on and asked if I wanted to go with him to see them. Of course I said yes.

 

I couldn't help but think about Bill as I stood and looked up in the stands. Remembering being there with him, talking about how fun it would be to go to night games someday. I looked at the opposite end of the field, near the goal posts and clearly saw the flagpole. I am looking forward to the nights in the relatively near future that the lights for the flags are installed and they will fly proudly, constantly.

Bill would be so proud.

So happy.

So grateful to God.

A lot of dreams came true yesterday.

Mine were not the only ones.

The dedication of the flagpole in Bill's honor will be Saturday September 29 before the Homecoming football game. All are welcome to join us!