What a difference a week makes! Last week I was riding along Lake Shore Drive, watching the beach volleyballers playing on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan. Last night, 2,000 miles away, I was watching young ladies playing volleyball in a high school gym in East Wenatchee, Wash.

I’ve always enjoyed watching high school sports, whether it be girls or boys, football, basketball, wrestling, tennis or volleyball. I never played a sport in high school, nor were my girls inclined that way (music and theater were their things). That never kept us from being avid fans at all kinds of contests, however, as there were always friends, relatives, or just the school team to root for. Because both my husband and I have worked in public education, we’ve also enjoyed watching “our” students play, and still go to support the teams in the district where he now works.

Last night I was back “home” (our house is still unsold, though we live now in southern Oregon, and I was back for a few days to ensure all was well), and the volleyball match drew me for a number of reasons. Our good friend, Tim, is the coach for East Wenatchee’s Eastmont Wildcats, and his daughter Suzie, who we’ve known since she was in 4th grade, plays for the team, as does another friend’s daughter. Other friends were in the stands, and we were playing Eastmont’s cross-river rivals from Wenatchee High. An added bonus was a number of fundraisers running in conjunction with the match which benefited the Wellness Place, a local support network for cancer patients and their families.

One of the things I like about watching high school sports is the pleasure I get in seeing the impressive skill some of the young athletes exhibit, interspersed with moments when you can just tell that focus on the game at hand suddenly gave way to thoughts of  a girlfriend or boyfriend or some other distraction. Sitting in the stands also allows me to indulge in one of MY favorite sports: people-watching. One can observe all ages and stages, from tiny babes in arms to proud grandparents. The student section provides lessons in the latest teen fashions, through which one can see the age-old and unchanging concerns of that age shining through: Will he/she notice me? Will they think I’m cool, or a dork? Will Mom and Dad let me stay out later tonight? And, of course, there are the parents –moms anxious that their child not get hurt, dads hopeful their child will make a brilliant play, all hoping for a win and a happy ending to the evening.

There is something comforting in being part of such a typical, enduring American scene, especially in light of the strain and anxiety over the economy in the last few weeks. Certainly there will be changes and challenges ahead, but there also will be volleyball matches and football games to bring us together and keep us focused on the things that matter most.

 Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader