To get the best insights into my lacrosse journey, we need to take a visit to the way back machine… There’s a whole cast of characters from my time in high school you haven’t met yet and they are an essential piece of my story.
It's time for my readers to meet the FamBam.
You see there’s Taylor, Liv, me, and Britt (listed in order of the picture above from left to right) who played high school and club lacrosse together. But you can’t make mention of Liv without Big K and Dr. Joe. Britt comes as a package deal with Mama E. Taylor’s Crew includes Michelle, Rodney, Bayard, and Deb. And with me comes The Captain and MA.
We traveled as a pack up and down the east coast playing at lacrosse tournaments from Orlando to Rock Hill to Baltimore. Over those 2-3 years we became very close, I suppose we didn’t have much of a choice as we practiced 2x a week 2 hours from home and all of our tournaments were also 2+ hours away. And I must admit traveling as a pack made for some interesting car rides, hotel stays, and dinner conversations. I’d like to believe fate brought this gregarious gaggle into my life, knowing the village it would take to raise me.
Britt’s traveling boxes of Swiss Cake Rolls.
Taylor’s obsession with licking the frosting off cupcakes (then putting them back).
Olivia’s need for postgame chocolate milk - preferably Gustafoson’s.
My need for waffles at hotel breakfast.
Big K’s rice krispie bricks.
The need for Big Gal, Pal, Hal, and Sal (if I’m remembering names correctly) to be ice cold.
And I’m sure you’d hear a lot of laughter over..
Bridesmaids.
Matching dog pants.
Balloon animals and waiters at Chili’s.
White Elephant parties.
Downtown Disney dance parties.
Birthday celebrations at Mexican Restaurants.
Getting kicked off the Disney busses.
But above all, the walls would tell you about a group of strangers who truly became a family. About a group of people who came together to support the goals of those 4 high school girls. A group of people who deeply cared for one another and would stop at nothing to make that care felt.
And while our LaxManiax and Buchholz lacrosse days have come and gone, I know the love and support will last a lifetime. I have a family that stretches from Gainesville, Florida northwest to Alaska (literally) and all the way back east to me, in Maryland. We don’t get the quality time we used to but the sporadic texts, phone calls, and FaceTimes always make my day. Whenever a memory of the FamBam pops in my head I cannot help but smile.
How blessed am I to have a FamBam that makes the pass.
Keep Making the Pass.
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