A few weeks ago, Chandler was selected to try out for the Young Olympians Program. Out of 5,000 girls born in 1998 who play soccer for Cal South, she was one out of 98 that got an invitation. It was my birthday when the letter came in the mail.
A few things about my birthday…
I don’t make a big deal out of birthdays, and so, no big deal has ever been made out of mine. I wasn’t expecting anything, and didn’t really get anything. Money is tight – isn’t it everywhere? – and as a mom, let’s face it, we learn to “do without.” Still, that didn’t stop me from feeling down; from feeling a bit unappreciated – something I would never admit, in a million years, to my darling husband.
So, we had our usual noon phone call when Hubby called to check on me, and “no, dear, nothing exciting is happening on this end.” I went to the mailbox, fairly depressed, hoping to at least find a card with money it from Mom, and there it was, a letter addressed to one Miss Chandler McDaniel from Cal South Soccer Association.
I cried. She did it.
All the hard work, the time, the money. All the tears and lost friendships over something that some people find so trivial. Everything all rolled up into one letter, and one opportunity.
I don’t know that anyone will ever understand what that stupid letter meant to Hubby and me. I don’t know if even Chandler will ever comprehend the emotion that poured out of me when I called Clint to let him know that he could rest easy, my Love, you have done what you said you would do. Because that letter may have been addressed to my daughter, but it was for the both of them.
And it was the best damn birthday present I could have ever, ever received.
