Old memories & friends anew

This weekend our teenager son, Hunter, competed in the Prairie Rose State Games, which I refer to as North Dakota’s own Olympics. He threw the discus and shot put. For me it brought back hundreds of memories of track meets on the prairie. They were my love, passion and fueled me for over a decade of my life. Prairie Rose especially reminded me of my track club, Quicksilver and all the summer meets we attended together starting in North Dakota in June up through National AAU in early August. 

 Those meets are far behind me and Quicksilver has dissolved. But they are the reason I got up at 5AM on a Saturday morning to get Hunter and his friend Zach to Bismarck for the Prairie Rose Games. I know the experience can enrich and build teenage dreams. 

 Plus it sets an example for even the youngest…

that may dream to follow in their brother’s footsteps.

 Attending the meet was Zach’s idea and he called us to see if we would attend. We didn’t hesistate. Zach won the discus and the shot put and Hunter took 2nd in both events, both had personal records and were all smiles. 

 It was a rewarding day to be a mom and a coach on the prairie.

Then my lifelong friend, Lora, who married a former Quicksilver Track Club teammate and friend of mine, Joe, and their two kids came to our hotel for an evening of swimming. Through our family’s friendships, Lora has been with me through thick and thin since she was her daughter Lily’s size and I was Elizabeth’s size. She’s been like a little sister to me. As we got older, she was an intern with me in college and then even lived with Hunter and me in our house in Fargo before Nathan and I were married. On Saturday night, she was recalling my first date with Nathan and the first meal I ever made for him…pork chops on the grill. True friends.

We are so grateful Lora and Joe and their two kids moved back to North Dakota six weeks ago. Our booming economy brought them back for an exciting job for Joe and we can’t wait for our families to hang out now on a regular basis. 

It’s the next generation of friends between our families. 

Old memories and lifelong friends anew.

What experiences from your childhood have you or do you hope to pass down to your kids?