So this is my first year coaching basketball with one of you.

I coached a team of Kindergarten boys when I was in graduate school helping my dad out who was in charge of Upward basketball at their church in Kerrville.

But this is my first time coaching girls – and my first time coaching you, H.

It’s more complex than you would think.

We work on passing, dribbling, and shooting. Simple and fine.

But then we get in a game, and nobody knows how to get open for a pass with a defender on them.

Or, the opposite: With a defender on them, nobody can pass the ball to a teammate.

To pass the ball to a teammate you have to look up the court though…

…But you can’t look up the court if you can’t dribble.

And then we are back to teaching basic dribbling again.

We have not even touched rebounding, defense off of the ball, or an offense of any kind.

Ugh. It’s so complex the further you go.

We are all gonna get it though.

If you want to play basketball – I’ll teach you – and we’re gonna get it.

I love you.

-Dad

We are getting an lovely little rain right now.

And I am sitting here in the living room simply enjoying it.

The quiet of the house along with the sound of the rain brings back memories of being a child and living in Florida so many years ago.

During the summer it would be hot and humid and the clouds would build all day.

Finally, in the late afternoon we would get scattered thunderstorms that rumbled like a distant earthquake.

As I peck at my laptop, the only light in the house still on is the one above the kitchen sink.

Thunder is rumbling to the north of us, I can hear the rain softly falling on the roof, and all is right with the world.

I’m tired and ready for bed, but it’s just a nice moment right now.

I love you.

-Dad