My Mother, Geneva Long Vaughan, was captain of the basketball team at Estill High in Estill, South Carolina in 1942. Her sweater had a star on the sleeve with stripes for significance. Both she and her twin sister were on the team and both told of their fun times going to games. She lettered in basketball and when she went to glory, Daddy gave me her wool, (can you believe wool!) letter sweater.
When I was in high school I too played basketball. I was not as tall as other players but I was agile and quick to move although I could not run worth a hoot!
The year that I graduated, Paxon High school was changing out uniforms and gave all of the basketball players their uniform to keep. I tucked mine away in a box and later put my Mother’s sweater with it. I loved that my Mom played basketball and I did too. She was certainly better than me because even older, she always won our “horse” games and she was competitive and not one to just “let you win to be nice.” Funny!
Today, I was straightening and cleaning out the closet and guess what was found? You guessed it, the uniforms. How fun it was to take them and look them over. I tried on number 23 and can still wear it. (HA, Ha! Ha!!! Haaaaa!!!!) Okay so I held it up to my size ___ body and laughed!
The memories of playing sports in high school is at the top of my list! Every day, I lived for the after-school sports program. Being with friends and playing the game was one of the most satisfying things in my life. On occasion, I would be “high point” at a scrimmage or official play and that was like winning the lottery. There were times I would be taken out of the game for being too aggressive and knocking out another player trying to get the ball. ( Oh, for goodness sake, I’m just kidding but I would try so hard to get the ball, I’d foul. The coach would take me out of the game for trying too hard!). I hated being removed from the game but it was all in the play of the game and in learning right from wrong.
Playing sports is a great way to build character. It teaches more than skills and play. It offers lessons in humility, power, give and take, winning and yes, losing. It provides the understanding that with hard work, gain can be accomplished.
Playing a game provides a way for a kid to grow, foster camaraderie, realize both honors and defeat and learn how to graciously accept both.
My parents came to all of my games. I could hear my mother’s soprano scream hollering my name and my dad’s encouraging words to “slow down.” I get the sense my mother was probably taken out of the game when she played for she was all about me going for it. Daddy was more practical and saying “take it easy”. Having both sides of coaching was good, I’m sure!
Looking back, I love those memories and am grateful for following the footsteps of my Mom before me and having the support of both parents as I developed my life.
I’ve been watching my 19 month old hit a baseball off of a t. I can’t wait to go to his games. I’ll be screaming “run”, “hit it hard”, “whack it out there”, “go for it”, and “give it all you’ve got”. Maybe one day he’ll be boxing his uniform with his grandma and great grandma’s!
Josie
