Until you've walked a mile

I think the saying goes something like "Don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes". This is sound advice and often times if you try to understand this concept it is with good intentions but not yet not fully knowing what it is like.  But actually doing this is a while different ballgame-pun intended.

I recently had to "fill in" for my husband as Activites/Athletic Director. I happily did so, but I was a tad bit nervous about something going wrong. Any and everyone was gone for a girls basketball jamboree. This included normal basketball workers/volunteers/helpers and administration-I had the "B" team coming in-this included me! So if the building burnt down or the basketballs were not aired up correctly-it was all on me!

Now I know there is a lot of work long before an actual event that goes into setting up and planning. I've hosted holidays, I'm a mom and a coach. There is lots of work before hand getting ready. But getting things set up, and dealing with last minute things is always a challenge. Lots of footsteps and making decisions when needed are part of the game. And last night was no exception. A check list was helpful. Keeping track of who needed to be where or what was supposed to happen when, was a constant for me. 

There were a few moments of panic...one involving ticket taking money-then I remembered, I have "the keys," meaning a master key to the whole place-problem solved!! There was an unfortunate incident of a dropped video camera by someone else, I fixed that by getting another camera. But I am not sure the dropped camera can be fixed-I'm gonna try. And a final thing on my part-I was in charge of playing the National Anthem over the sound system from off my phone...I've done it before. But guess who must have accidently deleted it off of her phone-ME!!! I frantically ran up to my office grabbed my laptop praying all the way down to the gym that I still had the song on my laptop. Yes I did-whew!

Officials got paid and fed. Coaches and workers got their free meal tickets. Players played. Basketballs had air in them and the fire alarm did not go off so the building did NOT burn down. Clean up was fairly quick other than I forgot something in my office three times and that requires three doors and locks to get through! Oh and I think I forgot to mention that in addition to doing the AD job I was also photographer for the newspaper covering four of the six teams playing. So I had to take pictures at all three half-games. It was a busy evening and I finally got something to eat and drink around 9 p.m. But all was good in the end. My intent was to never judge the duties of an AD-I KNOW the time and work it takes. But if anyone ever wants to judge someone's work duties/job then they need to DO that person's job, literally. I had no surprises in the "AD" duties. It was more the apprehension of "what if" something went wrong. But all is good in the kingdom. People got their first taste of basketball and I lived to tell, or in this case write about my adventures! All I can say is try doing someone else's job, just once! It is a learning and I'd bet an humbling experience.

Positive thought of the day: Our first blast of winter is on it's way.  So I guess regardless if I'm ready or not for snow and cold, it is coming. Just a reminder that we are not in charge but merely along for the ride. Be safe and enjoy!