A couple of weeks ago, I had a kind of epiphany.
My worlds collided – the things I love, that is.
We had babysitting duties with a stayover from Friday morning until Sunday morning – seven-year-old Lola and nearly 11-year-old Ryder.
Lola has a real connection with my dog George.
I say my dog, as he mostly only tolerates everyone else but me, with Lola being a remarkable exception.
George, kelpie x cattle x unknown, is a handful for everyone but Lola and me.
He will do whatever she says.
In fact, I think she is his true soul partner.
Lola decided that she would come walking with us morning and night, which is usually my mental health walk.
On this occasion, it became a full-on talk fest – she’s seven going on 17.
She made comments about the houses we passed; some she liked and some she didn’t like.
I started thinking maybe she would be an architect.
Initially, I thought it all a bit tedious, but I quickly got with the program and enjoyed it immensely.
So, by Sunday, both George and I were compliant.
The kids got picked up, and I went to my other love, the footy – Falcons v PNG Hunters.
It was a tough loss for the boys who threw everything at them.
At half-time, particularly in tough games, I always go into the dressing room.
As the siren blew, 400 kids ran onto the field.
All I could hear was, “Pa, Pa”, as Lola ran across the field into my arms.
She wanted to come into the shed, but I told her to go play with her brother and the other 30 kids out there.
As I walked into the sheds, my worlds collided.
Suddenly, I found myself back on the field playing with the kids.
History will show we got beaten that day, which made me sad for all involved.
But it is part of life, part of the highs and lows of sport.
That night I was walking George and, for a little while, I felt lonely.
I missed my little architect.
I was buoyed by one thing on that day.
I couldn’t change the result of the footy, but at least I made the right decision at half-time.
As I walked along with my best mate, I remembered a great quote, “Side by side or miles apart, grandchildren are always close to the heart”.
Amen to that!
Ashley Robinson is chairman of the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Sunshine Coast Thunder Netball, and a lifetime Sunshine Coast resident.
