Tonight was Lizzy's big night, in more ways then one. Tonight she was awarded her Varsity Letter in Swimming. She knew this was happening and so I bought tickets for the whole family to be there for her big night. Dinner is always pretty good and plentiful. You do not go hungry at these affairs. Coaches give their speeches, and then award their special awards. Then they start awarding the girls according to grade, freshmen, sophmore, juniors and seniors, their JV and Varsity Letters.
Then the seniors hand out their own special brand of paper plate awards to their friends on the team. Every girl gets one, sometimes they are very silly. Lizzy's paper plate award this year was for the girl that always starts her conversations with a "Like ya...". Then the captains give their speeches. You try very hard not to get as weepy as the girls do, thanking mom, dad and siblings for all their support. They really need to start handing out a box of Kleenex to each speaker and one for each table.
Then the moment every Junior on the team has been waiting for. The naming of next years captains. At the end of the season as the girls turn in their gear they vote for captain and they are announced at the banquet. So one of Lizzy's friends name is announced. It was a no brainer, her sister was a captain before her. Then another name is announced, OK not the name you expected, but no biggie. Then the third name is announced - Lizzy!!!!! This was the big surprise for us. She wanted to be captain, but had thought that she would never get it because there were two others that she believed would get it instead. She had resigned herself to be a gracious team mate when the names were announced, and instead she got to go up to the podium to receive her captain star. She is really excited, but also feeling sorry for her other two friends that didn't make captain (thats her heart showing). Expecially since the outgoing team had four captains so there is no limit really as to how many captains they can have.
Now I really have to come up with the money for that Varsity Jacket to have the special patches put on and worn with pride. Children, they just keep costing you money. Someone better show me where that money tree is in my backyard. HAHAHA
