Generation gaps

Once again my weekend was full. Full of family. Full of friends.

Though Saturday night with friends – old and new – was a major highlight, a fun event for all involved, the greatest part of my weekend was spent with my family.

On Wednesday of last week a cousin e-mailed to say she’d be in town from out of town. For her kids’ hockey games.

I looked over the schedule of games included in the e-mail and checked it against my calendar.

And bright and early on Saturday morning, I was there. At a rink I know. Watching my little cousin (cousin’s kid, second cousins, my mom’s cousin – I refer to all of them as just “cousins”).

And we talked. About life. My cousin (and my parents who were also in attendance) sat and smiled at the young kids skating around the large sheet of ice, missing the puck and colliding into the boards to stop. We reminisced on past games. Games we watched together. Talked about “last times” and “at the State Tournament” like it was a hundred years ago.

Inevitably, the topic of cancer and chemo came up. And my mom shared her latest updates with her niece. Updates that are uplifting and good. She talked about her radiation treatments, sleeping patterns, and growing hair.

While discussing cancer may not be a normal sporting event conversation, for our family, it kind of is. Because twenty years ago when Grandpa was sick with cancer, I used to sit in rinks and watch my big cousins play their Pee Wee and Bantam games in an effort to maintain routine and get outside the world of cancer and chemo. And I know that there were questions in between whistles and periods, thoughtful friends who inquired on my grandpa’s condition.

And as I sat there, watching my little cousin, I thought about the generations. The fact that I once sat in that very arena, possibly the exact rink, and watched his uncle (Cousin B) play in his USHL games back in the day. Back when I was just a kid. Back when Cousin B was just a kid. Back when none of my cousin’s kids were even born.

What an honor. What a privilege. What a blessing.

To be there. To be part of this. Family. The generations.

After the game, we waited in the lobby. And though the youngins don’t shower, it still “took forever” according to my cousin’s oldest kid.

When the un-showered kid emerged from the dressing room, wheeling his Easton hockey bag, I couldn’t help but think about all those games – a hundred years ago – when I waited for my big cousins to come out of the locker room (after waiting a million hours) and say hi. To congratulate or console.

To be there. To be part of this. Family. The generations.

The gaps may be large. Years in between. But the generations represented in my family continually remind me that no gap is large enough to separate the love we hold for one another.

A very Minnesota weekend for MN Meditations

I had myself a very Minnesota weekend.

The Boys’ State High School Hockey Tournament hit St. Paul like it does every March. The games on Wednesday were a bit lopsided in the scoring. Lots of blowouts and blanks. But things changed in the Class AA games in the Thursday evening sessions. Nail biters. Upsets.
Minnesota high school hockey.

That brings us to Friday. A beautiful day in the Twin Cities. Jackets were light. Spirits were high. The Let’s Play Hockey Expo brought smiles to the faces of teens, kids, coaches, and parents. Hockey players killed time before, in between, or after their tournament games. High school boys bummed around in their sweats and school branded jackets. And mites ran around with mini sticks and massive grins.

I was there. At the Expo in the afternoon. I may or may not have seen you there. Right after the Expo, I headed down to MOA for dinner and only dinner. I chose the restaurant based not on the menu or chef; rather, I chose the place because a. the line was short b. they had televisions and were showing the State Tourney – Moorhead vs. Hill-Murray semifinal game. And c. the waiter told me he’d change at least one of the TVs from some basketball game to the Gopher hockey game. Glad he followed through on his promise. The Gophs won. Beat Alaska Anchorage. One step closer.

It was a big Friday night. A great Friday night in Minnesota.

But Friday was just the start to the weekend.

Saturday welcomed us with atypical March Minnesota weather. A light jacket was unnecessary. Yet, people bummed around the Expo all day wearing their team’s hoodies and jackets. And Jack Jablonski gear. A reminder to us all that we’re in this together. This game and this state of hockey. Kids and parents bumped into friends and exchanged greetings and hugs in every aisle. 10 year olds and teens texted and talked as they walked, trying to locate their friends and family. Wild players were around the River Centre signing autographs. Booths buzzed with activity (minus the Shattuck booth-not a big hit at the State High School Tourney. Conflict of interest, ya know). Players checked out the latest and greatest gear. TotalHockey bags floated around filled with posters, t-shirts, and brochures for clinics and camps.

Meanwhile, in the X, the Vanelli brothers and their St. Thomas Academy Cadets won the Class A Boys’ State Title against Hermantown. The scores were announced during the Expo to the delights or disappointment of Expo attenders.

Then, around 3pm, I hit the road for another rink. On my way out of the Expo, via the Skyway, I saw a sight that can only be seen in The State of Hockey.

The lines for tickets to Saturday’s Championship game – long. Excited fans, parents, and students waited patiently for tickets to what turned out to be an incredible show.

I’m getting ahead of myself though. I left the Expo and took a detour because of information I received on the radio. Information that told me that 94w was closed – lanes were shutdown for construction. So, I told my phone to detour me. And detour it did. And then, in the end, it dumped me right back on 94 where I found out that there was no need for my ridiculous detour in the first place.

But I made it. On time. To see the Gopher Women’s game. The Gophers hosted the Sioux women and beat them 5-1. It should have been about 8-1 but the ladies couldn’t buy a goal-open net and all. Still. The Gopher women are ready to tackle next weekend in Duluth for the Semifinals. Be sure to congratulate those fine women and cheer them on next weekend.

I left Ridder just as Gopher fans were pulling into the parking lots and walking in the doors of Mariucci for the Men’s game against Alaska Anchorage. I rushed home, via more detours, accidental again. And I made it in time to watch the Gopher men struggle to capitalize on PP chances in the second. But then dominate in the third to close the deal. How bout that Haula? He’s on fire at the right time as the Gophers get ready to head to St. Paul via 94.

They’ll be at the X. Home away from home – home of Minnesota hockey. Wild and all. They’ll be at the Final Five. Hopefully winning in the same building that the Benilde-St. Margaret’s Red Knights won their first Class AA title in. Grant Besse scored all five of the Benilde goals. FIVE! What a kid! And what a story. From their tragedy in December with Jack Jablonski’s career-ending injury, Ken Pauly’s Red Knights fought hard to honor their teammate and show everyone that they were stronger and would not be denied. Not when they believe in miracles.
But lest you think Hill-Murray doesn’t get it, that they don’t know tragedy, read up on Duke Pieper and you’ll see that the Pioneers know all too well what it looks and feels like to lose a great player and teammate and how to fight through the tough times. Together. As a team.

That’s what makes the State Hockey Tournament so great. Aside from the phenomenal hockey you’ll witness, it truly is a showcase of all things Minnesotan. And it shows our strength. Pride. And determination. Our rallying efforts around kids we love and teams we celebrate.

All the pros and out of towners who say there is nothing like it. That in all there years of living here in the US or Canada, they’ve never seen people this excited for high school hockey. I mean, when 19, 880 people fill an NHL rink to watch 15-18 year old boys play – you know it’s good. And you know those pros, Canadian and all, mean every single word.

Don’t take my word for it. Or Brett Hull’s. Plan your spring break trip to MN next March. You’re welcome to see what all the fuss is about at the State Tourney and hockey expo. And I guarantee you’ll catch some great hockey and hear human interest stories that will pique your interest.

We welcome you to our very Minnesotan State Hockey Tournament anytime you can come to our Gopher nation.

MN Meditations is on Instagram @mnmeditations

Minnesota pride

Aibileen. Though fictional, I have something in common with her. She tells her story. Different from mine, as no two stories are alike. In her story, she raised kids. Lots of kids. And she felt responsible for those kids. For who they would grow up to be. For how they would contribute to the world around them.

She tells of a time when she ran into one of those grown children. How he hugged her and remembered their fun times together when he was a kid.

I get it. I get what that feels like. To see a kid grow up. To play a role in that process. To be an adult they can look up to. I know because I have had a hand in hundreds (possibly thousands) of kids’ lives (I’m not exaggerating).

Whether for a summer, semester, or several years, I was blessed with opportunities to assist parents in the growth and development of their kids. All of the parents were loving and kind, not like the mothers of Jackson that Aibileen experienced.

These kids, just like Aibileen’s charges, grow. They go from infants to toddlers, preschoolers to grade schoolers, middle schoolers to high schoolers, college students to young adults.

I’ve been there at the beginning; ready to rock them when they cry and change them so they’re dry. I’ve been there to sing and dance and potty train when they prance. I’ve been there in the middle; armed with homework tricks and games like pick up sticks. I’ve been there in the end; chatting on Facebook and cheering them on when everyone is there to look.

Keeping in touch with all of the kids I’ve met and cared for would be nearly impossible. But every now and then I hear stories about these kids. Some still young. Others grown and on their own. I see their names in newspapers, catch a glimpse of them on a television screen, find their name in an online newsfeed. And it never fails. Every time I have to remind myself that they are no longer babies or braces faced middle schoolers. They no longer need me to sing them that one song or tie their shoes the right way. Their world is no longer just their family and me. These days, they are making their mark on the world. The world I knew they would one day contribute to.

Some don’t remember me. Some still talk to me. Most don’t know that I still check in at times. That I still care about the people they’ve become.

This is a big week in Minnesota hockey. A big week for some kids. Kids I can picture in elementary school. Kids I knew back in the day. In a few days, a few of these kids won’t be playing pretend or dressing up for fun. Indeed not. For there is no pretend play in the games they will be participating in.

They’re ready. Each one of them. To take on the world and leave their mark. Everyone has a mark to leave and I’m proud to say that these kids, and every kid I’ve worked with, has made their mark on me.

That’s MN pride.

Weekend to celebrate

Thursday wrapped up nice and neat after my mom’s final round of chemo. Her oncologist was pleased with her progress. After the drugs finished dripping into her veins, my mom went and set herself up for an appointment with her surgeon.

Her cancer and chemo journey is on its second leg.

And we, her family, couldn’t be more proud of how she’s fought. Complaining is not her forte; she does not whine and wimp about the muscle pains, headaches, and bone pains. Even though they are there – they are her reality.

We celebrated with a fun dinner on Thursday night. On Sunday, my cousin hosted a family get-together. She made marvelous-smell-up the house-home-made chili. Chips were dipped in salsa and fresh, homemade guacamole (my uncle always brings a dish that blows us away!). Another cousin brought drool-worthy desserts. Super secret family recipe cupcakes that make an appearance at family gatherings all the time. I whipped up a batch of cut-out cookies using an aunt’s sugar cookie and frosting recipe. After eating ourselves silly, we spent time catching up on life. My mom shared her good news and everyone hugged and celebrated her journey. Then, after our bellies were full, some of us headed outside – down to the lake for some broomball.

It was a fun game with big plays and laughable falls. There were game-changing goals and lots of smiles.

Big smiles. For the broomball game. For our family. For my mom’s journey.

For the end of cancer and chemo.

That’s what we celebrated this weekend.

…

Along with the fact that the Gophers managed to sweep Blais’ Mavericks. Games that could have swung the other way.

Other college games around the league proved to be nail-biters and upsets, predictable and entertaining. I will say that I was glad NHL on NBC finally figured out that people like WCHA games and broadcasted the DU vs. UND game Friday night. That was quite the game. Thought for certain that DU was going to win it (did you see their come-back?). The Sioux find themselves in a tough spot though-their 100% cotton roster was dried in the dryer on high heat. We’ll see how they fare this weekend. For standings sake, I’m thankful the Sioux and Pioneers split it right down the middle.

There were plenty of other games on Friday and Saturday. Games that take us right into the end of the college hockey season…

All I know is that I’ll take a McNaughton with a side of Red Baron.

In the high school world, hats off to all the girls who played in the State Tourney. Especially to the Breck (Class A) and Minnetonka (Class AA) girls on their championship wins. You’re missing out, if you didn’t see the State Tournament. Be sure to tune in (on TV and online) for the Boys’ State Hockey Tournament (March 7-10).

Lots of people were celebrating this past weekend.

It was a good weekend to celebrate.