Cold and Football

Wind whipping, shivers running down my spine

Pull my hood down low, endeavor to persevere.

Knowing the reasons for the shorter days does not make it better.

All of the bite that the morning brings floods my senses with 

thoughts of elementary school and cold days on the playground at recess trying to gain the 

affection of the pretty blonde girl who never liked me all that much.

And of course football.

The joy of the struggle, the smell of the grass and the coaches yelling.

I loved it all.

It was whole life, my identity.

The great days of Saturday morning little league games where I ran to exhaustion.

Then Dad and I went to the Maryland football games and I sat in the stands with my muddy uniform on.