It is Slalom tournament season in Indiana

The USA Waterski Association sanctions series of tournaments all across the country. There are so many ways to surf, board, show ski, race, and play, it certainly demonstrates our love of the water. In a typical tournament here in Indiana, the ones we attended consist of slalom, trick and jump ski events.

Around the area near Syracuse, Indiana, there are many lakes, big and small. One mini lake named Cindonway Shores hosts ski tournaments regularly. Dotted with a few houses and surrounded by farm fields, Cindonway seems like a charming slice of Hoosier life.

Sure, skiers win awards for their performances in the different events. There are a range of categories, from age to ability, so a skier is pitted against skiers like themselves. After local tournaments, skiers can move on to state, regional and national competitions.

But what I'm thinking about today, is the social aspect of these get-togethers is great sometimes. Participants camp out on shore, set up shade tents, and unpack their picnic supplies. They watch each other ski, be they athletes from kids to teens to adults to seniors, and cheer each other on.

It's good-spririted competition, one person at a time. In between sets kids play frisbee, tennis, and run around and jump on trampolines. Thoughtful skiers and family members help organize, judge and run events.

On this July Saturday, a pregnant mom who couldn't ski helped out by baking pans of lasagna (along with the other chefs in the lakeside household kitchen). They served up a great meal for all, and folks walked down to their screened-in porch, served themselves from the spread and sat together to eat at picnic tables. It doesn't get much better than that.

The Indiana State Tournament will be held in Indianapolis this year, and the Midwest Regional competition will be in Wilmington, Illinois, near Chicago. Indiana has produced some great skiers over the years, including current world record holder Nate Smith, ladies such as Marla Lott and Prissy Edwards, and many others. All those lakes, so little time - summer is over in a flash. Ski on, ski hard, or go home.

Loving World Cup Soccer

There has been quite a buzz this summer about the FIFA World Cup Soccer matches held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Huge crowds from all over the world turned out in cities and towns to watch the televised games. I went with my family to Parkview Field in downtown Fort Wayne to watch the United States versus Belgium on the stadium's Jumbotron. The U. S. lost in overtime, and yes, soccer usually is rather low-scoring. But I have loved watching it.

There're lots of haters out there, actually saying that soccer is boring, just a bunch of men running around and batting a ball around a big field. They somehow think that white ball is just bouncing around haphazardly. I'm kind of amazed people actually think that.

I have loved watching the few games I have been able to see. The players are amazingly athletic. The cultural and ethnic differences between counties is wonderful to watch. I really enjoyed the final game between Germany and Argentina. Even hearing the differences in the two countries' national anthems was fun. The German anthem is Teutonic, classical. The Argentine started slowly, solemnly, and then eventually broke into something upbeat and cheerful, such as a salsa or samba or whichever beat it was. The people in the stands held up flags, shirts, towels or whatever cloth they had and danced and sang along.

I was routing for the South Americans, and it was an exciting game. But the Germans scored with a sweet chest-drop-to-foot goal, and Argentina never came back. The Germans really are incredibly strong as well. Bastian Schweinsteiger was hit more times and had medics called for him on the field than anyone I have ever seen. Blood was pouring out of this guy's face, they'd patch him and he played on. Yeah futbol, bigger than football.

Not only did the U. S. have its disappointments. Former World Cup victors England, Spain and Italy all were done after the first round. And the World Cup in Brazil had its bizarre moments as well, such as when Uruguay's Luis Suarez bit the shoulder of an Italian defender. Considering Suarez has been suspended for doing this in Europe twice before, I'm wondering why this is still ok. But hey, I did not make the rules.

So all you soccer haters out there: please stop harshing my mellow. Soccer speaks all languages and crosses all barriers. It was fun to walk into a Mexican restaurant in Phoenix and see a random game playing, with all the patrons laborers watching the game while having lunch and getting out of the heat. The game was on Univision and not broadcast in English, but that did not matter. Everyone watched it, and when the announcer gave out the classic, excited, extended, " GooooooooooaaLL.." we all knew what happened. Get over yourself, U. S. and American football. This is bigger than you. Now, we need to see the next step - this kind of accolade world-wide over women's soccer too.

Poem for Matt

The image is of Monument Valley, Utah - this is a glorious desert scene in the southwestern United States. The poem I have written below refers to a different arid place: Phoenix, Arizona. From the poem, the native people called the Hohokam were also referred to by early Navaho and Hopi Indians as "the ones who had gone before."

I wrote the poem June 28, 2014. Since then, many people have read it or passed it on, sharing it in some way. Since these words have meant something to them, I feel I need to share it with you here.

Poem for Matt

I will see you in the place where the Hohokam dug irrigation canals out of the desert.

You will appear to me as a saguaro one day, an ocotillo the next.

You will crush the creasote for me, so that its perfume rises.

You will circle the sky above me as a desert eagle, showing me the way.

You will warn me of danger, rattling your tail and slithering away.

When you see us all missing you, you will bathe our tears with healing monsoon rains.

When you become weary of our human foilibles, you will send the haboob to slow us down.

You will continue to change the people who knew you.

You will play like the wind, kicking cans down the road, hiding eyeglasses.

You will get your mother to wear a cowboy hat that came out of a dumpster.

You will remind people of what they missed, but not fill them with regret. They will learn to seize the moment.

You will rise out of your father's laugh, and live again in his sweet memories. You will remind us again what love is.

You will help another young lifeguard save a life. You will rip my heart out and replace it with a bigger one.

I will see you again. We will run and swim together in endless dreams.

I will see you again. We will hold hands and fly together into the sun.

-SLG