DOWN HOME:
It ain't over 'til skinny girl sings
___Lindsay stood there on the front row of the bleachers, waving her left hand high, index finger and thumb pointed in the all-familiar "L," singing the Lewisville High School song.
___Scenes you've seen over and over crystallize when you view them for the last time.
___And this was the last time our oldest daughter would stand in high school bleachers, regaled in her Farmerette drill team uniform, singing the school song.
___We all knew this moment would come. But I didn't anticipate it would happen on this cloudy Saturday afternoon.
___Maybe it was over-confidence. Or maybe plain-old denial. The Lewisville Farmers played well all season, and I hoped for much more. They se
emed at least as talented and driven as the squad that won state back in '96.
___But they ran into a tough Fossil Ridge team, and the locals faced an afternoon of what-ifs.
___What if we could have tackled No. 19, their slippery receiver who made three touchdowns? What if our center hadn't hiked the ball over our punter's head, resulting in a safety? What if we hadn't tried and failed to get two points after our first touchdown? What if we hadn't fumbled after that long run? What if we kicked a field goal to tie the game instead of trying to win it outright? What if?
___When you pin hopes on the jerseys of 16-, 17- and 18-year-old boys, get set for what-ifs.
___Still, we enjoyed a tremendously fun season. The boys played 11 exciting games--nine wins and two heart-breakers. I cheered and yelled and hooted until I embarrassed Joanna, who told folks around us, "Please forgive my husband; he's just this way." And then I re-lived every game when I read about it in the paper.
___But I've got to tell you the main reason I wanted the Farmers to keep playing wasn't any dream of a state championship. I just wanted a few more halftimes. I've been a Texas high school football fan all my life. But for the past four years, the highlight has been halftime.
___That's when the Farmerettes would kick and twirl and jump up in the air and do the splits, and I'd yell until I'd get so hoarse I'd be shot for the third quarter of the game.
___Football is great, but the real deal is watching your own kid down there on the field. I'm sure I'd feel the same way if she carried a flag with the ROTC or played a tuba in the band.
___So, I wanted one more game (and then another and another), just to watch that little light of my life strut her stuff at halftime.
___You may know I've got a reprieve. Molly's a freshman Farmerette, so Jo and I can look forward to three more years of halftime excitement. Then I'll be a real basket-case.
___Right now, however, I'm just grateful to God for children who kick and twirl and jump up and do the splits and make their daddy proud.
___Even if they do grow up and sing the school song one last time.
The Baptist Standard
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
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