Post #5 - Aneil's Soccer Game

So today I just wanted to share a picture I took because I love it so much. Come to think of it, I have to remind myself to make a copy of it for Mami-Ji! It's from Aneil's soccer first soccer game after everything happened. I say those words a lot, huh? "After everything happened." I guess I can't bring myself to saying it in any other way...

But yeah...everyone went to the soccer game. When Roger, Bhabi, and I got there (we were a bit late), Mami-Ji and Masi guys were all there, along with everyone else in the extended family. It was a really emotional day. You could see it written over everyone's face and I know that personally I had a tough time looking directly at Mami-Ji. I'm sure I don't need to tell you guys that Mama was such a big part of the boys' lives when it came to all their games. Actually I don't even know how many teams he coached. I have a newspaper article that I made a copy of for Mami-Ji that I'll look for to post on here. It was about one of his teams that dedicated their game to him.

Anyways, at this game all the players were wearing t-shirts with their numbers on the front left-hand side (on their hearts) and on the back it read: In Loving Memory of Dave Sidhu. Aneil was wearing #13 - Mama's number! I think it was Sukhi who told me that he was hoping to score a goal just for his dad. Everyone who was watching on the sidelines was on edge. We really wanted him to get that goal. Don't get me wrong, he's a fantastic player (he's SO athletic!), but the game was coming to an end and I can imagine that all the players were exhausted and tired because whereas we were in a shady area of the park, they were under the hot boiling sun. I think I had forgotten how HUGE a soccer field was too because I can't even imagine running back and forth on it for as long as they did that day!

We had only been there for a bit when I remember Mami-Ji or someone asked Roger to go pick up Ma and Dada-Ji. Just when they all finally arrived and were walking from the parking lot to where we were watching, Aneil scored a goal! They heard all the cheering because they were almost right behind the opposing team's goalpost. It was awesome. Aneil's teammates were great too because they all knew to pass the ball to him. All I know is that he could school me in a game of soccer or basketball any day! He obviously inherited some great athletic ability from both his parents...

xoxo Karen