Happy Adrenaline Strikes Again

The half-pint in the black shirt: "She's weird."
The belle in the purple tank: "But she's funny."
The snarky little miss in pink: "I don't like her.  She doesn't do anything but talk."
The wide-eyed doe in yellow"  "um ... She heard you."
Me: "Why yes, yes I did." (and then I winked at the snarky one)

I absolutely love Day 1, after the butterflies flutter by, that is.  First impressions are so important in sports and it is at this time in their lives when they learn it ... aaaaaaand usually the hard way.  The only "competition" that most of these girls have seen has been sibling rivalry.  If you want to impress the coach, aka make the team, you don't take to the court passively.  You run.  You take every word, that the coach says, to heart and apply their words the next time it's your turn.  You don't roll your eyes at the coach.  When the coach asks a question, you reply enthusiastically.  And when the coach asks you your name, you don't turn to the girl next to you and have her answer for you.  Aahhhhhhhhh ... the joys of middle school volleyball.  (Let me go on record right now and say that I am so glad that I'm not the "adult in charge" this time around.  No busy work, just volleyball!!  ha cha cha!!!!)

Practice ended at 5 and the pain remained at bay until almost 9:30!!!  Happy adrenaline is a wave I wish I could keep riding, but RSD always brings me crashing back down to reality, at some point.  I was so exhausted that I forgot to take my bedtime meds until after I was already in bed.  As soon as I got up to take them, Kiva decided that she should probably go outside one last time ... to bark at the raccoons in the alley.  Aaaaaand then I was awake ... and so were the neighbors.  As soon as we got back in our beds, I remembered my meds ... again.   My body said, "screw it,"  the exhaustion took over, and I was asleep before Memphis Raines played "Low Rider."

My body decided I had to get up at 5 which did not coincide with my having set the timer on Bertha for 6:30 ... so I had to wait for my coffee this morning.  I'm not a fan of that.  It only took 3 hours for me to be able to walk upright and another hour after that I was able to talk myself into the shower. Cheers to volleyball season ... and remembering to take my K-spray!!!

I have faith that today's practice will better than yesterday's practice.  I have faith that the girls will learn and accept that I may be a dork, but I am the coolest dork that they'll ever meet.  I have faith that my body will continue to fight me, but my will is strong and I will keep fighting back every step of the way.  I have faith that, despite the exhaustion, I will remember to take my meds before bed.  I'll defo be needing more downtime during the season, but it will all be worth it as my heart continues to overflow with the joys of coaching volleyball again!!