Nostalgia

I went to Daisy's first ever soccer practice yesterday. Even though she is already ten and most kids start soccer as early as five (some cases three), she looks to be athletic enough to be able to play competitively with her age group. Sitting on the grass under a cool shady tree watching her run drills made feel proud and a bit nostalgic.
Most of my childhood soccer memories stretch back to the home country. Running around every afternoon in the town soccer field with the shade of the southern mountains slowly overtaking the field. The pickup games not ending well after most of us could not see the ball in the dark. Some of the parents coming down the two roads leading to the field yelling for their respective kids. There is something to be said for just letting kids play...making their own rules, learning as they go along. Just being free.
I played high school, college, and competitive soccer later...but the pickup games were the best.