Funny how things work out

Sometimes I contemplate how things have turned out the way they have. My latest pondering is how I became friends with some wonderful people in Chicago.

Back in 2007, a few days after I graduated from college, I sent an email out to rec.sport.disc looking for a team for sandblast. This is a mixed beach tournament in Chicago that I had wanted to attend for the past three years, but had been unable due to working/being out of town. But I was going to play in July of 2007! I remember I sent the email out pretty late at night looking for a team for myself and my friend, Cree. We were two ladies looking for a team, which I knew would be no problem. When I woke up the next morning, I had an email in my inbox. It was from Matt P, a player out of Chicago whose team was called "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini." I decided to accept the first bid, since I knew I would probably get lots. I emailed him back right away to tell him the good news. As the day went on, my inbox was flooded with about eight more bids. When I read some responses, I was almost kicking myself because the teams sounded like so much fun! But I stayed with the person I promised our bid to.

The emails that got sent out before the tournament from the team made me excited to play with them, there were definitely going to be some great characters on board! And then came the actual tournament. It was so much fun, one of the most fun times I had experienced at a tournament up until that point. I decided to play for this fun group of people the following year, it was even a question. However, I then dislocated my shoulder a few weeks before the actual tournament, and therefore had to sit out. The year after that (2009), I and my fiance were signed up!A few days before the tournament I had an appendicitis and could not play for yet another year! But finally in 2010 I made my second appearance at Sandblast!

the reason I started writing this because this coming Sunday, Richard and I have been invited to a BBQ that is hosted by a couple that played on the original sandblast team, and all the following years. We have since played Fall League with them, and been to many planned and impromptu parties. We have spent much time with other members of the team on and off the field as well. This is a great group of people that I look forward to spending much more time with. How things work out is incredible. I would not be affiliated with this great group if Matt hadn't been the first to respond or if I had waited to pick from all the bids I received. I am good with how it worked out.