24 Years Ago & Now

Twenty-four years ago I was a junior in high school. Twenty-four years ago I was playing my first year of basketball. Twenty-four years ago I fell in love with a sport that would forever change my life.

Now twenty-four years later, my daughter is playing on the very floor that I played on.

Ironically too, she is wearing the same number I did.

Last night as I walked in the gym, many memories of my first game and year of playing basketball came back. I remember it like it was yesterday. My daddy came and sat mid way up the bleachers. As I sat at the scorekeepers table, I could almost pick the exact place he sat. My mom was at home because our youth group was having Tuesday night Bible Study at our house. I can remember feeling nervous as I stepped out on to the court the first time. A few years later, my Daddy would tell me that he actually laughed some because I looked so lost out on the court. It would be the first of many games he and my mom would see me play over the next six years. I wish he was here to see her play. He would be so proud of her. It's hard to believe it all happen twenty-four years ago.

Now I am the parent sitting and watching (while keeping the book) my daughter play the game that I came to love in the same gym that I have so many good memories.