As the school year comes to a close and summertime kicks into full swing I can't help but miss having lacrosse consume my summer. We all used to dread those long car rides that ranged from New Jersey to Maryland all the way down to Virginia. But now we look back wishing we could do it all over again.
If you're like me you spent every weekend of June and July, whether you were playing or one of your siblings, on the lacrosse field. You were a pro packer, you knew exactly how many shorts, shirts, pairs of shoes and bathing suits you would need for each weekend. You knew exactly what games and movies you'd bring in the car and where their place around your feet were. Your family ran like a well oiled machine, everyone knew their job and where they had to be when.
Depending on how far the drive was going to be decided what movies to watch and when to start them. You've played the "ABC road sign" game more times than you can remember and you know exactly where every rest stop bathroom is from New York to Virginia. But once everyone got back in the car it was back to business, don't cross the "line" between your sister and your area's and don't put your feet on the back of your parent's seats.
After many hours of driving and traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike, you would finally get to your hotel. You're parents would make you carry more than your bodyweight in bags but once you dropped those bags in the room you were free. Before everyone had a cellphone you'd actually have to wait in the lobby for your friends to arrive, you couldn't just text them.
As you were scorched by the sun on the field all day all you looked forward to was the hotel pool after dinner. Running around and playing hide and seek through the hotel hallways never got old. As you grew up the pool became less important because there were cute boys every where you looked.
But the friends you've made playing lacrosse all summer will never be replaced. Whether you were at your big brother's tournament and learning new gymnastic tricks with the other younger sisters or creating friendships with your own teammates, you'll always share special memories with these friends.
Looking back on all the tournaments I dreaded going to when I was in high school, I regret not taking advantage of the time I had traveling with friends and playing the game I love. The beach and pool parties were never as fun as traveling to tournaments. Summer lacrosse brought so many friendships and created so many memories, we'd do anything to live it all over again.