I would love to know what you were expecting this post to be about after reading the title. Yesterday two great milestones were passed at work. One, I passed my six month review (yea!) and, two, I was asked by one of my co-workers to join him in a pick-up game of soccer football today. The usual jokes aside about picking up the ball, should I play wide receiver, etc. I was a little nervous about accepting the offer. There are days he will return to work with knees twice their normal size or have various scrapes and cuts. Furthermore, these people have been training/practicing since they could walk. I began to think back on when I last played soccer football. I know that I played a handful of times in grad school about seven years ago and before that I believe I stopped playing organized soccer football when I was 12. To top it off, I am out of shape by doing nothing more than walking Siena on a semi-regular basis.
As it is Tuesday evening, I am happy to report that I survived my first experience playing the beautiful game with people who and in a country that actually appreciates it. How did I do? Not that bad for a guy wearing running shoes, basketball shorts, and a University of Illinois T-shirt. They are much better than me…
