For the first time in history the United States Women's Rugby Team beat the French National Team! What an amazing accomplishment and for that to be the game I received my first cap is something I will cherish until the day I die. It is an absolute honor to walk onto that field for your country.
The anthem plays, your arms locked within your teammates, your nerves start to dwindle away and the tenacity starts to take over. Your already thinking of what your first hit will feel like, or what it will feel like to go into contact. Fear is gone and all you can do is contain yourself until you hear those wonderful lyrics... "Home of the Brave."
The whistle blows, the kick is up, your focused on your counterpart and connecting with your teammates for the double tackle, and it is the greatest place on earth to be. It is not vacation, it is the reason you get up to train, it is the reason you run in 100 degree weather, it is the reason you turn down drinking with friends, and holy shit... it is worth it.
I'm back home now resting and reminiscing but that only lasts a short while. The itch to play has already started and lucky for me, I will be playing in my first 7s tournament of the summer this weekend. That sweet addiction will be fulfilled and I will once again be on the green grass with the others suffering from the same need to play. When I lay my head tonight I will think of my running lines, the low hard tackle, and the joy of diving into the try line, and then on Saturday I will create this running film in my head into a show for all to see. Life is good but living life as hard as you can is better. Goodnight.
