This weekend was the Roots n' Blues BBQ festival. It was also the weekend of the MU Rugby Alumni games.
On Saturday, I spent the morning and early afternoon sampling all of the competition BBQ that Austin's team submitted and enjoying Dutch oven cobbler (made specially by Austin...DELICIOUS!).
After all the competition meat had been turned in and the tent was taken down, Austin and I headed over to meet my parents and the boys at the rugby game.
My father coached the MU Rugby team for 20+ years and one of his former players invited him back to come watch the festivities. When Austin and I arrived my dad was standing on the sidelines yelling at the action and I was taken back in time for a moment, remembering all the games I attended as a little girl, playing on the sidelines while dad coached.
I cannot fully describe the feeling I felt watching him back in his element. Happy mixed with some element of peace and contentment. It was nice to see him again as the father of my memories-vibrant and passionate and wise.
My mother told me that when they got out of the car, they didn't even make it half way to the field before old players were coming to greet him and re-introduce themselves. Coach! It's so and so...Do you remember me? I played for you such and such years ago...
One of the older players told my mom that evening that next year they will have another alumni rugby game and this time they will play for a trophy. The Ian Hermann trophy. When she told me this, I teared up, overwhelmed with emotions, knowing that there are so many other people who love and respect my dad and will remember him they way I do- vibrant and passionate and wise.
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