Remember when you were a kid, and all you wanted to do on a hot summer night was play outside until it got dark out, and then play some more? OK, maybe Buck is an exception to this, since he’s a freak who never wants to be outside in the summer…but for most of us normal people, a hot summer night was an invitation to play outside for as late as we could get away with it.
I was no exception to this rule.
When I was a kid, one of my favorite things to do was to shoot baskets in our driveway. And I was good at it. Really. That’s one of the things that few people know about me. I am especially good at the game of Horse.
People are always surprised by this—I don’t know why this is. Perhaps it’s the fact that I’m a very clumsy person and bump into things on a regular basis. Yeah, that could be it. But the fact remains that I am a very good basket-shooter.
Just ask Iwanski’s family. A couple of years ago, we decided to play a game of Horse at his sister’s house. There were 5 or 6 of us playing—including Iwanski and his two brothers-in-law—and wouldn’t you know it? I beat ‘em all. I’m very proud of this. (Can’t you tell?)
But the reason I’m so good at shooting baskets is because I practiced a lot when I was a kid, sometimes until 10:00 at night. I remember vividly one hot July night when I decided that I was going to try to get as many baskets as I could before my parents finally told me I had to come in and go to bed.
So I stood out there for hours, shooting basket after basket, while it got darker and darker outside. Finally, my parents told me it was time to come in.
When I came in the house, I went right to my notebook, tore out a sheet of paper, and wrote “Carla got 40 baskets today,” dated it, and put it in my scrapbook. Wow. 40 baskets. That’s 80 basketball points. And for an 8-year-old girl on a hot summer night, it seemed like a huge accomplishment.
I wonder if my Mom still has my scrapbook from then. I would love to take a look at that piece of paper again and remember how easy it used to be to feel like I was a star.
It seems to me that as adults, we could all give ourselves more pats on the back than we do. We’ve all certainly accomplished much more than shooting 40 baskets.
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7 comments:
okay chicky, this must be the year for me to discover new things about you... once again you have surprised me... well, I have a surprise for you too... I usually win at HORSE too! I officially challenge you to a match of HORSE! Best two out of three wins! Do you accept this challenge?
That is pretty cool.
Now frame that as adult game. So after each basket you make drink a beer or take a shot of whiskey or tequila.
Mathman, shouldn't your opponent drink after you make a basket?
I offer to provide radio play-by-play of this extremely important HORSE match!
This may surprise you, but I am INCREDIBLE at dunking a basketball. My mom has a video of me (about five years ago) and I made eight baskets in a row. From the free throw line.
I could beat the healthypants off you at horse.
Oh. As long as it's not hot outside.
J (&) B - maybe you're right about the opponent drinking. I was just trying to make it fair (I can't shoot but I can shoot) before the parents yelled out the window, stop drinking in the driveway and dry out.
Oh, I TOTALLY know what you mean about playing outside until the 'rents called you in. Awesome.
I can't shoot baskets worth spit but I can drink.
'Hey,..you kids wanna play some Horse?'
'Go away old man!..yer botherin' us'.
'Oh yeah?..I'l bet a girl could whip yer asses!.
'You wanna put your money where your mouth is?'..
'Sure,how about 50 bucks?'..(motions to MHP)..
..We split 50/50,right?
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