Don't Get Me Started with Linda Sharp

It's All About Robin Today!

Happy Birthday To Elisabeth!

It's Lori's Day, Too!

It's Diane's Day!

It's Jeanne's Day, Too!

Birthday Wishes For Deidre!

It's Suchitra's Day!

Auf wiedersehen to Germany

We're back!  It was an extraordinary 10 days in Germany with Carson and 70 girls from her soccer year in Lonestar.  Together we shared memories, laughs, excitement, firsts, and of course, jet lag.

Lots of jet lag.  

With a 7 hour time difference from Austin to Straelen, and Straelen staying light out till after 10pm, you can imagine how messed up our internal clocks all were.

But no matter.  Adrenaline and excitement more than made up for any fatigue or confusion our spleens experienced.  Spleen to liver, "What in THE hell is she doing up at 3am???  Playing on a swingset no less?"

The trip was an amazing one, and if you are friends with me on Facebook, I did try to chime in regularly with updates and pictures of our adventures.

The girls played against their German competitive peers, enjoyed sightseeing in Dusseldorf, Cologne, Venlo, and Munster, spent a day biking through an insanely beautiful and hugenational park in Holland, and taking in three World Cup games along the way.

All of our Facebook friend stats have increased with the addition of parents and players we met along the way.  The people were beyond hospitable and welcoming, and each bus ride that took us to a new complex for our games only added to the roster of new folks who made this trip so special for us.

The girls, to put in mildly, were rock stars.

From the intense curiosity they encountered when they would show up en masse for their matches in their matching Lonestar gear, to the press who interviewed them after games, to the world wide attention they garnered at the WC games - they were walking/talking photo ops.

A huge highlight was the USA vs France semifinal game this past Wednesday.  Days earlier we had all gathered in a large meeting room at our hotel to watch the USA take on Brazil.  We held our breath, we cheered, we groaned.  We watched the game drag to two overtime periods with the score still tied at the end.  For girls who have had the same scenario play out in their lives, that of a game coming down to the dreaded penalty kicks, the tension could be cut with a knife.

As Carson puts it, the time from when a player walks from the center line to the PK spot is "the longest walk of your life."  She knows exactly how many things play pinball in your head during that walk.  "Everyone's looking at me," "don't shank it," "don't overthink," "pick your spot, look down, strike," "don't miss, don't miss, don't miss," "God, it will feel great to make it."

With each successful PK taken, the room erupted in cheers.  And when the final ball went in the net, the roof blew off the hotel.

After months of knowing we were going to see a semifinal match, and months spent hoping, wishing, praying we would get to see the USA take a spot in it, it happened.  All the pieces fell into place, even the necessary USA loss to Sweden last week that was needed in order for them to face down Brazil and head to the semi final for which we had tickets.

None of us, players, parents, and trainers will ever forget walking into the stadium in Monchangladbach, seeing the girls take in the enormity of a stadium dedicated to their sport, filled with people who love futbal, the way folks in the USA revere football.

We were all decked out in red, white, and blue - flags, hats, leis, tshirts - and I dare say we bought every tube and pot of face paint in Germany and Holland.

The result?  An entire section of the stadium, so close to the field it was almost surreal, a human explosion of patriotism and support for the US Women's National Team.

We were hard to miss.  And believe me, the press did not.  From folks back home seeing us on their TVs, to the whole stadium seeing us on the Jumbotrons, to the news pieces which followed the game, the girls' pictures have been everywhere:  ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo News, CNN, even our local Austin news did several pieces on the girls, highlighting photos I had been posting on the Lonestar Facebook page.

They were stopped in the stadium concourse where total strangers asked to take their pictures.  They met the "Marry Me Hope, I'm Solo" sign guy.  A couple met Abby Wombach's mom when we got to the stadium.

For Carson, this trip was stuffed full of memories and moments she will visit in her mind and heart for a lifetime...

Leading her girls onto the field for their first game and standing shoulder to shoulder as the National Anthem played for them.  Sending a much larger German player to the ground, only to have the girl get back up and high five her performance.  Winning a huge World Cup test with her team against the other teams on the trip.  Her team wInning the Talent Show.  Her team flying in the face of the majority of the people on the trip AND their English trainers and supporting their French teammate when we went to the England vs France game (France won).  Cruising down the Rhine with her girls, watching castles float by.  Getting her first international goal assist, with a header no less.  Trading gifts with her German soccer peers.  Adding her first German player to her Facebook friends.  Coming up with "ice cream" with her soccer friends as a code for, well, if I told you I'd have to kill you...

But in ten days worth of memories, one will stand out forever - you see, Carson is a huge fan of USA player Megan Rapinoe, #15.  It is no wonder.  They not only share the same position on the field, but their style of play is remarkably similar - they are game changers.  They are predictably unpredictable.  They are full of life, game creativity, aggressiveness, and just as happy when a team mate scores as when they do themselves.  

For the USA game, in addition to being decked out in red, white, and blue, her face painted with a big star, she made a special poster for Megan.  And after the game, as the stadium was clearing out and we were lingering to see if any players would come back to the field, it happened.

From across the field, we saw Megan's trademark short blond hair emerge from the tunnel and she walked across the field.  Carson made a beeline with her sign to get to the area.  I lost sight of her ponytail as she and a team mate forced their way through the crowd.

Megan hopped the wall and went straight to the crowd.  I could see the press taking pictures.  But I could not see Carson.

Until she and Sarah emerged moments later, coming back up the steps, smiles on their faces.  

Not only had Megan blown Carson a kiss, but she had then come over to see the poster.  She loved it, and then signed it for Carson.

Happy is an understatement.  And it was happiness that only grew when her room mate and friend Ophelie - our goalie - managed to get her poster signed by her hero - USA super goalie, Hope Solo.

Ten days.  Ten days packed to the rafters with fun and "moments."  And then suddenly we were headed to Amsterdam for our flight back to London and then the one which would take us back to Houston.

We were exhausted.  Happy, but tired to the bone.  (As a chaperone I averaged 3-4 hours of sleep a night, updating the folks back home, uploading pictures, etc.)  

I knew Carson's gas tank was on empty when she did not ask to switch seats on the plane as she had done on the trip over.  Instead she opted to stay seated by me, or rather ON me, sleeping in my lap and on my shoulder for most of the ride home.

Jet lag will still rule our lives for another couple days as our spleens readjust to the 7 hour difference, but that's ok.  An unhappy internal organ is a small price to pay for the incredible memories we have packed in our hearts for the rest of our lives.

(Thank you to everyone who contributed to Carson and her girls to help make this trip possible!)

~~~~~~~~~

All pictures are available through my FB page, but here are some Carson highlights...

The National Anthem being played for them

Serious and ready for action in another game

The day we arrived, in order to keep them awake, I took them walking and we found a playground that became OUR secret place for the duration of the trip.  No other team ever found it.

Game #1 in her new World Cup jacket and the hat she HAD to have in Dusseldorf

When we visited Cologne, I turned around and she was lighting a votive candle for Meagan, her friend who took her life at the high school earlier this year

Some of the hardest working cleats you'll find.

The giant grass couch in Straelen

Planking the grass couch

Cheering for France!

Taking on the competition

Being interviewed by a German radio station

Being photographed by a local newspaper

With her poster signed by Megan!

Flight delay in Amsterdam, but no worries - there was free Wifi!

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye Germany!  We love you!

~~~~~~~~~~

Natala - this one is for you.  Carson took it in a restaurant in Cologne.  :O)

 

 

 

 

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