I loved grade school. I remember playing with my classmates in the yard. We would run, climb and roll in the grass. Our physical education teacher started us in different sports by grade 3. We did kick ball, baseball, basketball and soccer. I imagine it was very difficult to teach 30 8-year old kids to follow rules. Every time we heard, “game” we would cheer and just run around. I remember my first encounter with a soccer ball was when it hit me straight in the face and sent me hitting the ground.

It was a funny experience. That day we were supposed to learn how to play football or soccer, the coach told us to break down into groups of two and pass the ball using our feet. His instruction was to kick the ball lightly. We kids, with our selective and imaginative hearing, heard, “kick the ball as strong as you can”. My friend kicked the soccer ball with all his might, all I heard was “swosh” and “bog”. I saw bright lights and felt myself hit the ground. Then I heard a “thud”. Evidently it was my head hitting the ground. I wasn’t that hurt, I was more stunned and embarrassed mostly. I also felt my nose go inside my brain. I hope my son will never have to go through what I did.