7/12/2018 The Gravitational Pull of the Center of the Universe

Last week I took a trip far on the other side of the world and I almost didn't come back.  

Now, don't be alarmed, I love Ashland more than I have ever loved another town, but I have always felt the desire to move and have a great love of the unknown destination.  I never liked the feeling of being settled, and I struggle with it as I attempt to have a normal life with kids, a husband, a dog, and good friends.  

I discussed stealing a sailboat and heading south towards Casablanca, but my traveling companions refused to crew the ship.  






Do you know what finally turned my wandering mind back to thoughts of home?  It was a bus; a mundane, ordinary bus.  We were standing on the sidewalk outside of the Newark airport after a bumpy ride across the sea, and a big, blue James River bus pulled up to drive us down 95.  It was like unexpectedly finding an old friend there to pick you up, saying, "Glad you're back; lets go home."  

So as many times as I travel, or pretend like I'm running away to the far ends of the earth, there is a part of me who will always be lulled by the soft voices of Virginia, by the cacophony of evening locusts, and by the sweet faces of my town.  It's good to be back.

In Ashland news, your Ashland Barracudas beat the Ashcreek Crocodiles last night by a score of 905.5 to 857.5.   Thomas Senfield broke the team record in 9/10 boys' 100 free for the third time this year. He keeps breaking his own record- make a note of that.  

Those taking home four blue ribbons were: Caleb Flanagan, Kaylee Morgan, and Annie Topich.  Triple winners were: Christine Datovech, Paul Datovech, Julia Dull, Grace Gordon, Kyle Henry, Davis Luck, Brette Nicely, Elizabeth Roberts, Emmeline Roberts, Thomas Senfield and Aiden Spence.  

And what about Miss Christine Datovech?   I spoke to both her mother and coach about this record-breaking streak that she is on, and asked them, is there any record that she HASN'T broken?  

Why yes, they said, she can't break the breaststroke record.  

Well, ladies and gentlemen, that claim is now false as Christine broke the GRAL record in the 11/12 girls' 100 freestyle and the team record in 11/12 girls' 50 breaststroke last night.  It is exciting to watch the trajectory of a young athlete.

Congratulations to the Richmond Kickers North girls teams coached by Tony Santos and Ed Fallen competed in the Torneio Internacional Futebol Feminino in Aviero, Portugal!  This group of Hanover high-school girls were true ambassadors of good-will and sportsmanship as they made friends on the pitch.  Soccer is a beautiful game that transcends languages and cultures, and  many of these girls started with the Ashland Youth Soccer League which will begin practices in the fall!

Enjoy this lovely town that always welcomes us home! Ride your bike to the Farmer's Market on Saturday and bring home fresh bread for breakfast.  Have a beer in the afternoon by the tracks and speak to the people who walk by you.  Pack a picnic and bring your Sunday paper to read by the Carter Park pool.  Pause awhile and look at this beautiful life.

Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Tenha um bom fim de semana!