Kids Grow Up Fast

[timmyo]

The kid transferred all his smelly hockey equipment from the old Elk River bag to his "new" Green Mountain Glades hockey bag, tossed it in the back of the used Rav4, waved goodbye and headed off for Burlington, VT this morning. He had a grin on his face and adventure in his heart; his mom and I both had tears in our eyes but our hearts were proud to see him set off on his own.<br><br>Hockey can open all kinds of opportunities: he's seen most of two countries, he's met hundreds of kids - some who have become good friends -from all over the world, and as either the hero or the goat he's learned to deal with success and failure, all because he's played the game. Now I see a young man chasing away the boy as he chases the puck halfway across the country.<br><br>But when I compare how I felt watching him drive out of sight to what I think when I read some of these posts, I can't help but think of "perspective." We post and predict, rant, ramble and rave about alot of topics on this forum, alll dealing with hockey and most legitimate, but some of us sometimes lack a little perspective. When it's all said and done, as your son drives away it becomes pretty clear that the game is just a game. It's a great game, to be sure, but no matter what it's only a vehicle - whether to someplace better or to someplace worse is up to each one of us. <p></p><i></i>

[Ex Tridens Scientia]

Thanks for sharing that experience. "Perspective" is something we all need to keep in mind as our kids travel down this path. It is nice to hear the lessons learned from those who are farther down that path than others. <p></p><i></i>

[elliott70]

And, apparently, they grow up smarter than us. Slidin' around on the ice beats gropping with some sweaty guy on a rubber mat.<br><br>Seriously, I have felt the pain and enoyed the pride.<br>Not much beats kids, except grand kids. <p></p><i></i>

[timmyo]

I was hoping you were out there lurking, Elliott. Good to hear from you - as always, astute and jovial. <p></p><i></i>

[wild77]

Nice post Tim. Good luck to Collin, Cole, Matt and any other Elk River players heading to their next hockey oppurtunity. Hopefully, we will get to see them play again someday. <p></p><i></i>

[elliott70]

An Ostroot boy would look good in Beaver green someday.<br><br>And he could make grandpa happy by running trrack in the Spring.<br><br>"LURKING" - Like some five foot sturgeon in the cold, dark, fast water of Rainy River. Or perhaps like a certain science teacher in the halls of Falls High, pointer in hand, ready to lift.... <p></p><i></i>

[jimmylewis]

Well said Tim. I'll probably see you this weekend and I'll share a similar story. Yeah, you don't know who this is, but I'll let you know.<br><br>Good luck to all the boys and girls who move out and move on. Hockey's a great vehicle for life experiences. <p></p><i></i>

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

Very nice, very nice. Best of luck to the ER boys, show 'em what you got <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/glasses.gif ALT="8)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p>Elk River AA State Champions- 2001 Boys & 2004 Girls</p><i></i>