We're prepping this week for the Nike tournament in Portland. Freddie will have two early days at the gym, 5:30am up and out to shooting workout, then evening workouts through Thursday. He has this focus about him that I think we're helping bring to the next level. The conversations in the past week have been about dealing with your weaknesses, being mindful of 'game speed', staying the course and not making your opponent more than he is. We've talked a lot about physical contact and if he could change anything about basketball, it would be the elimination of contact. With this in mind we're pushing him to continue to immerse himself in that contact until it becomes a second skin, until it is as normal and comfortable as being alone on the wing.
Steve and I washed my car...I am a total failure at washing cars. The boys constantly laugh at my inability to have that final shine--as if one went to a car wash with the hand drying guys. Ithink to myself, "It can't be that hard, it's just a technique." And Freddie, Steve, Jefferson laugh and poke, "Duh, just put an elbow into it--and don't forget to dry the car off." Of course the result of lacksadasical elbow action and skipping the drying leaves this streaky mess of a thing. The upside, we all laugh and maybe that's the underlying goal. Silly insiginificant things that bring you back to that peace, that some things--they are meant to be activities around something totally different than what you are doing. I think washing cars is that for me...it's about watching them be amused at how ridiculous the results are. Someday, I too will 'get it' and execute well, but for now I like those secondary inputs and they give me energy.
Justin graduated from boot camp and we chatted with him over the weekend. Away from the Great Lakes and now in Florida. He sounds as if he has matured, as if he realizes the strength and fortitude within--that his life is in fact his own, and he no longer needs to hold onto childhood nightmares being his fault. I look forward to seeing him, to see the boy who has turned into a man. Finding peace within through military training...valid.
Long week ahead. But hopefully, it will be with a sense of direction toward something instead of away from it.