2 Weeks, 2 Games, 1 German Champion

So season is somehow closing out and I am at a lack of words to describe what I am feeling as well as to describe just how fast the time has flown by.  6 months.... already.  I wasn't sure when I first started this adventure whether I'd last 6 days but apparently moving across the world and getting to play the sport I love, travel Europe every free day I get and train National level athletes hasn't been all that bad. :-)  Clearly, I've loved every second of it and makes for an extremely difficult decision about next year, but that is a whole nother topic.  (Just realized that "nother" is not a word, won't really stop me from using it as I'm certain most of my blogs from here on out will be mixed with some German as well as a whole lot of poor English due to the learning of another language).  So... 

This is where the OSC Eisladies stand.  (Yes, for anyone first hearing our team name, laugh it up, I still think it's pretty funny).  Currently the Eisladies are in 1st place in the German league.  We have 2 games remaining against teams we have beat 7-1 (Grefrath) and Ottobrun 10-0.  This sounds like a pretty easy ride into the end of the season however, there is a little team called Planegg that is trying to get in our way to victory.  Planegg has 3 games remaining and are also in a pretty good position.  We have played Planegg twice, us beating them at home 4-2 and them beating us at their home 5-3 (with 1 second left, scored by a player who quit our team and joined their's just maybe a week earlier... but that is beside the point).  So each of those loses, one for them and one for us puts us at a dead tie.  Now comes the interesting part.  We have to basically score as many goals as humanly possible against these next two teams we play.  Which to be honest I really don't enjoy doing, it does not feel very nice to just destroy a team and truly be excited about the 14th goal scored when the other team has hardly touched the puck.  But I have been informed over and over by teammates that this is normal here in Germany and that it isn't a mean thing to do.  Still... anyhow it is the situation we are in and I believe that the other teams are also aware of it.  We are currently up 10 goals on Planegg and they have one game in hand on us.  It actually makes for a much more exciting season then had we beat Planegg that second game or had only lost by one goal, now every single game we plays matters and every shift and every goal so there is no time let off even for a second.  

I hope to have a post-game update this Saturday with extremely good news, so if anyone reads this before Saturdays game please think/dream about goals for us.  

March 21st and 22nd marks the end of the season over here for me.  We have our German Pokal (German Cup) and that is for a different title the the German Championship that is won at the end of the regular season.  However, we would like to take that title as well so the training continues.  

Injury Report:  #16 Kathrin Fring (My roommate) has partially torn one of the ligaments in her left foot and is out for ... 2 weeks.  Injury went down in her Uni track and field class during their final practical exam when she was demonstrating her perfect Javelin technique when on the last step CRACK :-(  So we are down a D, my D-partner (BOO)

#4 Haleigh Callison (Kathrin's roommate) has beautifully slightly thrown out her back.  Being the smart HKin Graduate, 6 year Twist employee decided to train a group of the Womens German National Hockey Team and not warm up herself before doing so.  Oddly enough, who knew?  When you don't warm up and start demoing exercises it's not a really smart thing to do.  Only missing 2 practices, she'll be back training tomorrow (friday) and more then ready to play saturday, expected to score a minimum of 2 goals. (also suffering from a cigarette burn to left upper to mid back/side from an unknown at Dante Saturday.  Ironic that the person that probably hates smoking the most, gets burned with a cigarette...awesome)

**Other then that only one player is prego, 2 are back from maternity leave and I believe the rest are good to go** (Only in Women's hockey does this happen)

More on non-eisladies hockey hopefully to come soon.  (Working on not waiting every 2 months to update blog).  

To Uncle Ivan

(This is the letter I wrote for my Uncle Ivan who recently passed away.  I miss you so much.)

I would like to play a song that to me, is for Uncle Ivan.  But first I have a letter I would like to try and read for you.

How does one write a letter to someone when you don't believe they won't get to read it or that they're no longer with us, physically.  It is hard.  So hard, but I want to write this letter first to Uncle Ivan.

Uncle Ivan, Thankyou.  Thankyou for always always making us all laugh, every dinner especially Thanksgiving, we would all make sure we could sit near you, make sure we were near enough to hear your jokes and hilarious comments.  So calm, so happy and so funny.  From teaching us how to say some names in French to informative lessons in relationships.  You had it all covered.  Generous and kind do not even come close to explaining or describing the person you always were.  There was always something I loved so much about you, you were always happy, you didn't need big material goods to do that.  It was a Lucky in one hand, surrounded by amily, making everyone laugh and absolutely having a blast on the dance floor at every gathering.  (The odd time a cigarette, but hey we almost had a deal right :-)).  It seemed to be an attitude of just "Happy to be here".  One that I try to live by.

I am honestly still in disbelief, I wrote this sitting on a bus somewhere in the middle of Germany after 2 games that were won for you.  Could only get you one goal but it was a little tough to keep my heart in the game when it was so so much with you back on the Island.  And with Suzanne and Jeremy.  You have raised two of the kindest and most loving individuals I have ever met, so much to be proud of.

I want to make sure you know how much you affected everyone's lives and just how much we all loved and still love you.  Getting to see you every year at Thanksgiving and when you came up to Smithers for my parents 25th.  I remember clearly when my mom saw you, she nearly dropped to the floor.  Family is everything for her.  I know this is part of why this is so tough, you guys all have taught our generation of kids to truly appreciate and love our siblings and the family we are so lucky to have in our lives.  Thankyou for that lesson and thankyou for helping me understand how to enjoy life and appreciate every second of it.  Enjoy every last prawn, every chicken curry, every smile and every moment with those we are surrounded by that we love so much. 

I remember saying good-bye to you, not knowing it would be the last time, it was this past Thanksgiving at Aunty Murial's house.  Justin set me up on Skype so I could feel like I was there with you all.  A little unsure of how this skype/video/phone thing worked you came and talked to me for a bit, when I close my eyes now I can still see you standing there... so clearly.  Also lately, through the tears I see you dancing with my mom at Sandra's wedding, every image that comes into my mind and heart is of you having a good time somewhere with a smile on your face, enjoying and appreciating the simple things in life. 

How do you end a letter you never wanted to write.  Please just know how much I love you and we will miss you so so much.  Lighting the candle this year at Thatnksgiving is going to be the hardest it has ever been.  I love you and I know you are with Uncle Dale and you get to see your Mom and Dad again.  Say hi for us please.  Good-bye for now, think of you often and love you forever.  

Song Lyrics for Mark Perry's "A Song for Joe"

You must be mistaken, I have not been taken,

I've just been set free, to wander wherever I please.

I'll be in the mountains, and I'll be in the trees,

I'll be on the path we used to walk, and out of the blue my name will appear when you talk.

I'll be out there on the wind, and the rain will wash me clean.

And the sun will heat my back and I'll breathe easy and deep.

You must be mistaken, I have not been taken.

I've just been set free, to wander wherever I please.

I've just been set free to wander wherever I please.