Friday night sporting competitions

Tonight was the first set of sporting competitions for Principia this academic year.  It was kind of a big deal, with the Principal encouraging everyone to attend and support the athletes playing volleyball and [American] football.  So I went to the varsity volleyball game and I sat next to Sally, who is Wylie's mom.  Since Rhiannon has spent a lot of time at Wylie's house with her parents, Sally is kind of a backup Mom.  A major highlight for me while I've been here has been to get to meet Sally!  

This whole week, including today, has been really hot - in the 100 F (38 C) every day and only getting down to like 85 F (30 C) at night. Of course every building has air conditioning, so its cool and even cold inside, but outside... verry hot and humid in that midwestern sort of way.  

The [American] football game started at 8pm, and this was advertised as really the big event... cheerleaders, drum line, lights, bleachers, visiting team fans, all that.  But unfortunately, in the first 30 seconds of the game, a player from the visiting team got seriously injured.  This was a scary moment for all of the spectators actually because the poor fellow was screaming in agony as his leg turned out to be broken.  The paramedics on site swooped in to stabilize him, and then the ambulance came to take him to the hospital, but for all that time the crowd was quietly praying and supporting him in their thoughts.  After that, the game did not resume and everyone went home.  Neither team wanted to continue playing and they concluded that the very hot weather resulted in the field turf peeling off too easily.  So that was the kick off for the sporting season!