MY SOUL HURTS

Today was the saddest sporting day in my life. This was because Barca was eliminated from the Champions League semi-final in Barcelona. This tournament is the European club soccer equivalent of the World Cup, and its winner is rightly crowned the best team in the world.

The Catalan side came out attacking and took an early 1-0 lead. John Terry, the captain of the opposing Chelsea team, was ejected a few moments later for a foolish foul. This gave Barca a one-player advantage for the remaining hour of play. Shortly thereafter, Barca scored its second goal to put them up 2-0. They were in the driver's seat and had overturned the 1-0 victory that Chelsea had earned against them 6 days earlier.

However, Chelsea quickly struck back with a goal of its own. While each team had scored the same number of goals between the two matches (2-2), Chelsea's "away goal" at Barca's stadium gave them the advantage since these count more than goals scored in one's own stadium.

Barca were stunned and looked like a prizefighter that had been knocked down for the very first time. Indeed, this is a club that had won 13 of 16 possible trophies they had contended for in the past three years under its current coach Pep Guardiola.

To their credit, Barca continued to attack, but it was to no avail. What had seemed effortless last season and even earlier this season - scoring one simple goal (that would have seen them through to the finals) - became impossible.

There are several explanations for why this occurred. First, the team has played an inhuman number of matches this season. Second, key figures have been or are still injured. Third, Chelsea was resolute in its defense. Finally, and most importantly, Barca had lost belief in itself.

No point in the match captured that loss of belief greater than when the great Messi missed a penalty. Nine times out of ten, Messi makes that shot. However, today he hit the bar. That thud drained any remaining hope from Messi, the Barca players, and fans worldwide. The players and we knew then that the universe was aligned squarely against us, and the players surely felt powerless in the face of that pressure. What a time to realize Camus' truths about the absurdity of life!

Why does this loss hurt so much you might ask? It is not merely a question of expectations and the belief that Barca was the better team. Rather, it is the belief that Barca's philosophy of play is how life and the game of soccer were meant to be- fluid, tireless, resolute, and passionate. Barca is the Gryffindor of soccer, the Rebel Alliance of soccer, and any other purely positive analogy that comes to mind.

Earlier this week, Barca lost another match - this time to its bitter rival Real Madrid that effectively ended Barca's campaign to win a fourth consecutive Spanish League title. Afterwards, my favorite player Andres Iniesta spoke for all cules (Barca fans) when he said, "Our soul hurts after this loss." The picture below of a disconsolate Messi captures this hurt better than any image I have seen today.

That our souls hurt after this loss means that the Barca philosophy is something worth fighting for.

Yes, it will be a very long off-season, but Barca will be back. How do I know this? Because this Barca like me gets up after it has been knocked down. This Barca is the team of my life!

HIS HEART ON HIS SLEEVE

Today when I got home our nanny Grace asked Nicholas to tell me about his day. This is never a good sign. He was reluctant to share the events of the day, so Grace gave me the scoop.

Nicholas' teacher said that he had spit at a classmate today. I was floored by this news. I asked him to tell me why he would do such a thing to one of his best friends. Nicholas fought back tears and said that two of his friends from his class were playing with him at recess. At one point, everyone was having fun. However, later the two girls, who are quite fond of Nicholas, were trying to sit on him. He apparently was laughing at first but then wanted them to stop. He said he tried to run away but that they followed him. He said he was quite upset by this experience and later spit in the direction of one of the girls, who happens to be his best friend.

At this point, the tears were flowing, and I tried to comfort him while also giving him guidance on alternative ways he could have handled the situation (find a teacher, express in no uncertain terms your frustration with your words rather than your saliva, run away!). He said he understood this and would not do it again.

While I was firm with Nicholas, it was hard not to be sympathetic with him. He is one of the nicest and kindest children whom I have ever known, and he adores his school and classmates. Clearly, his feelings were hurt, and he felt as though he had no outlet. I tried to help him realize that their are always options but that one had to live with one's choices. He said he understood.

We wrote a card to his best friend. In it he apologized and explained how he felt. He also decorated it and attached a homemade necktie he made out of yarn. I am hopeful he will make up with his friend tomorrow and that this teachable moment will pass.

Whoever said childhood and parenthood was easy clearly had a charmed life without kids of their own....

TICKLE BEAR

This video of grandma tickling Cate while we were on vacation speaks for itself. Enjoy!

HE SHOOTS! HE SCORES!

This weekend marked the beginning of Spring soccer for Nicholas. It was an uncharacteristically beautiful and sunny April day, and Nicholas was very psyched to get back out there.

Since the Fall season ended, we have been watching a lot of soccer. We try to practice at least once per week at an artificial turf pitch by our house that is not a mud pit like the nearby grass pitches. Nicholas has become more comfortable and confident, and he brought his A game this past weekend.

Very early on, there was a mad scramble in front of the other team's goal. Who was in the midst of things? Mr. Nicholas. He calmly slotted one home with his left foot. This was followed by a mini celebration complete with arm flapping.

We also jumped for joy on the sideline. This was not because of the goal. Rather, it was because of the joy that Nicholas exuded and the improvement that he showed.

I am not sure whether Nicholas will score another goal again this season. However, I can guarantee that Nicholas will give his all on the field and that he will be a positive influence on his teammates. For what else could one ask?