Monday's Musing
In honor of MLK, Jr. Day....
“Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
It's very very rainy here and we're off to day three of the Zone Championships swim meet. Both boys qualified. :)
Have a wonderful week, everyone!
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ETA, an update on the swim meet: This year, our team was lucky enough to host the Zone Championships, a three day meet. Our fearless meet director arranged everything so the bigger kids swam in the morning (A Session) and the younger kids (like mine) swam in the afternoon (B Session). Everyone had finals in the last session (C Session). Yesterday, Sunday, an A Session swimmer defecated in the pool. Those of you who know these things, know that there was a mandatory closing of the pool for a set amount of time, while extra chemicals were added and circulated. Kids who came to this meet from miles and miles away were stuck, with their parents, waiting until mid afternoon for the competition to resume. The finals were completely canceled, and the relays were rescheduled for today, the last day of the meet. Session A resumed after Session B, and they must have been there pretty late.
This morning, we got a call from one of the other swim parents. Yesterday's social statement had been repeated, and the meet is canceled. I really am dumbstruck. One kid has ruined this championship meet for 750 swimmers. The really shocking thing is that swimming is a sport where sportsmanship tends really to be celebrated. Swimmers grow up together and see each other at every meet. Of course there are strong rivalries, but for the most part, they stay in the pool. On the business side, not only is the money for renting the venue and the timing equipment gone, a third of the entry fees will need to be refunded and we will still be paying for the programs and food not sold and the emergency chemical "house call" yesterday. As this meet was at the local Junior College (and they are furious), there is speculation that our team will no longer be allowed to use the venue - the only indoor pool in the area - to host meets.
And don't get me started on the hundreds of families who cleared their weekends and drove miles and miles to get to the meet, and the kids who were perhaps in their first championships meet or are aging up and had a last chance to get a Junior Olympics time. We are lucky; it's fairly close to us, and both of our kids got to swim. But others are not so lucky.
The meet director feels close to discovering the perpetrator (it's someone from another team), and we all hope that the person in question is banned from competition and sees a good psychologist. Whoever it is really needs help.
“Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
It's very very rainy here and we're off to day three of the Zone Championships swim meet. Both boys qualified. :)
Have a wonderful week, everyone!
----------------------------------------------
ETA, an update on the swim meet: This year, our team was lucky enough to host the Zone Championships, a three day meet. Our fearless meet director arranged everything so the bigger kids swam in the morning (A Session) and the younger kids (like mine) swam in the afternoon (B Session). Everyone had finals in the last session (C Session). Yesterday, Sunday, an A Session swimmer defecated in the pool. Those of you who know these things, know that there was a mandatory closing of the pool for a set amount of time, while extra chemicals were added and circulated. Kids who came to this meet from miles and miles away were stuck, with their parents, waiting until mid afternoon for the competition to resume. The finals were completely canceled, and the relays were rescheduled for today, the last day of the meet. Session A resumed after Session B, and they must have been there pretty late.
This morning, we got a call from one of the other swim parents. Yesterday's social statement had been repeated, and the meet is canceled. I really am dumbstruck. One kid has ruined this championship meet for 750 swimmers. The really shocking thing is that swimming is a sport where sportsmanship tends really to be celebrated. Swimmers grow up together and see each other at every meet. Of course there are strong rivalries, but for the most part, they stay in the pool. On the business side, not only is the money for renting the venue and the timing equipment gone, a third of the entry fees will need to be refunded and we will still be paying for the programs and food not sold and the emergency chemical "house call" yesterday. As this meet was at the local Junior College (and they are furious), there is speculation that our team will no longer be allowed to use the venue - the only indoor pool in the area - to host meets.
And don't get me started on the hundreds of families who cleared their weekends and drove miles and miles to get to the meet, and the kids who were perhaps in their first championships meet or are aging up and had a last chance to get a Junior Olympics time. We are lucky; it's fairly close to us, and both of our kids got to swim. But others are not so lucky.
The meet director feels close to discovering the perpetrator (it's someone from another team), and we all hope that the person in question is banned from competition and sees a good psychologist. Whoever it is really needs help.
Labels: Monday's Musing
posted by Romi at 8:44 AM
6 Comments:
Oh my gosh. You mean it was deliberate? I thought someone had an involuntary bout of the runs or nervous stomach or something! That's disgusting and appalling!
That is gross and very sad all around. I can't believe it. I do hope they find the person and something can be done.
It is interesting that you chose the quote regarding MLK. One of the executive leadership in the company I work for used it in a note to employees today. It is especially fitting for this time and I am taking it to heart.
SO frustrating and sad and crazy making...I hope that the person is found as accountability is really necessary here. And probably some mental help. Good teachable moment for your boys I guess-but who needs that kind?
How awful! I can't imagine how upset everyone must be and the kids especially. :-(
If they only know what team it is, they can ban the whole team - you can bet the other team members know who did it.
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