Down Time

Today began with a trip to Gettysburg. We had a fantastic tour of the battleground. As we sat comfortably on the nice warm bus (the weather turned a bit nippy today -- okay it was downright cold!) our tour guide David took us through the three day battle at Gettysburg. The students were full of questions ... "How many people died?" "What was the ratio of Union soldier's to Confederate Soldiers?" "Why did they shoot the horses?" "You mean he wasn't tried for treason?" and, of course, "Can't we just stay on the bus and look from here, it's COLD outside!"

We stepped off the bus a few times to view monuments and key locations in the battle. The students, who were in short sleeve shirts and shorts, refused to believe us when we told them today would be cold -- to be fair, I have to admit we have been telling them this every day of the trip and this was the only day we were right. It has been in the upper eighties and very HUMID up until today ... so I suppose it is no surprise that they chose to ignore us. As we got off the bus the students, mainly the boys, formed a tight huddle -- they stood shivering as a unit while our guide took us through the story. Then, purple from the cold, they sprinted back to the bus.

By about 4:30 this afternoon we reached Lancaster, PA. We were surprised to find a very special guest waiting for us -- Karyn Farrar-Perkins has joined our ranks!! After many hugs and hellos the students checked into their rooms and spread out for an afternoon of relaxation.

Many of the students headed to the pool to swim, while others went to play basketball, tennis or miniature golf. After dinner some of us headed outside for some more games. While some of the boys were playing basketball a few of the neighborhood guys came to use the court. As they got out of their cars the hotel came over to ask them not to stay, because we were using the court for the evening. Julian must have heard this, because he shouted across the yard, "You guys can come play with us if you want!"

The guys quickly agreed. Julian, Nathan, Nick, Brandon, Will and Coach Pirozko all joined in a friendly game. Our 14 year-olds beat the neighborhood two games in a row. As they were playing Coach Pirozko began to wonder how all his varsity boys would do against these big boys. Word quickly went out that there was a little competition on the court.

As the sun was setting in the horizon, the court echoing with the sound of laughter, seven members of the Pasadena Christian Varsity Basketball Team opened the door of the hotel and began to strut, as a team, across the yard. This was one of those moments that just begged for a sound track ... the boys walked quietly in a line, slowly measuring their opponents as they approached -- I honestly heard music in my head.

They quickly grouped together with Coach and planned their strategy. For the next hour and a half our boys ripped the neighborhood team apart. They laughed as Coach yelled directions to them from the sideline - and grinned with satisfaction as their opponents yelled out in frustration. Every few minutes the players would become a jumble of legs and arms, all scrambling for the ball. Then, suddenly, one of our boys would come flying through the air -- high above the rest -- to capture the ball and score.

After we had won several games and were headed in for the night, Coach Pirozko went to thank the neighborhood team. It turns out these weren't just kids (we assumed they were older than our students, as most of them were incredibly large) -- these were high school seniors headed off to college. Andrew, Omar, Jeremy, Connor, Jalen, Diran and Zach crushed a team of 18 year-olds who were twice their size and weight. And the winning streak continues.

It was a memorable victory.