With only two healthy subs, my soccer team was lucky to walk away from our contest with Belmont this morning having secured a scoreless tie. Despite earlier forecasts to the contrary, it was cold with periods of steady rain. I sustained a cracked rib early in the match which did nothing but add misery to the damp, cold conditions. I collided with an opponent while pursuing a 50/50 ball. We both went to ground and somehow his knee wound up clipping me under my rightarmpitt. I have cracked several ribs over the course of my life and I know to expect agony any time I sneeze, cough, or laugh for the next several weeks. Fortunately, it should not prevent me from continuing to play.

Later, the day turned beautiful and I found time to give Maya, now 14, her first proper driving lesson. She was a surprisingly fast learner and by the end of an hour was driving confidently around our neighborhood. She feathers the brakes as if she has been driving for years and didn’t once forget to signal a turn.