The Night The Red "C" Turned "Pink for the Greens"

It's Friday folks! In our house, that means Friday Night Lights, Football Fever, Go Conard Chieftains!! Pulling out everything I have that is red, from shirt, coat, mittens, scarf, blanket, bleacher seat... heck, even the dogs wear red on Fridays!

But last Friday, I was in pink, because Conard went "Pink For The Greens"!

I had received a call from Coach C. (don't you love it?!), the week before stating that he and the team wanted to do something for our family to show their support and to help us out a bit. He wanted to do a fundraiser of some sort. He had talked to Torrie and I agreed. I thought there might be a poster or some pink ribbon stickers for sale; boy was I wrong.

From the moment we pulled up to the stadium, all you could see were pink and green balloons lining the way into the stadium and across the top row of seats. At the gate, you had your choice of a pink or green rally towel to wave. The cheerleaders, all 40+ of them, were in pink. People I knew, and people I didn't know, were decked out in pink. Unbeknownst to me, an email had been circulating through the Conard directory, describing the night and how to participate. Torrie, himself, had gone to school looking so great in his pink button down, khakis, and green tie. And finally, the Team themselves, were all wearing pink wristbands and carrying a green towel in their back pocket.

Amazing, Awesome, humbling.

We were playing Southington...State Champs...hadn't lost a game in 25 games...we were pumped, loud and excited! They were first to snap the ball and we held them to minimal yards. Our ball. Short run, followed by a quick, short pass. Another first down. And then the snap, the quarterback is looking left for Torrie and Torrie is in the endzone, a high pass, a big jump for Torrie amid two defenders, misses the ball, comes down awkwardly, SNAP...Broken Arm. Just like that. Senior season over.

Are you kidding me???!!
This is "Go Pink For the Greens" Night, not take Torrie to the E.R night!!
We haven't even been on the field five minutes!!
Rewind...do over...please!!

I can tell by the way he walks while assisted to the sideline, that he is hurt bad. In fact, the Dr. on the sideline told him it was more than likely broken, but Torrie insisted on staying until the end of the game.For two and 1/2 hours longer, in freezing weather, my hero stood on the sideline in pain, supporting his team. God, I want to be just like him when I grow up. So as I was trying to figure out which hospital to go to (one that we didn't owe money to because of me!), people were flooding us with offers to help juggle cars, take me home, etc. This great community, my community of angels.

So Torrie's onfield season is over, but he is excited to be helping the team on the sidelines. Our special "Go Pink for The Greens" night, just reinforced to us, at one of our families lowest moments, just how much Torrie is loved by his team, and how much we are loved by our friends and community. We are so blessed.

So we will dig out our red today and gear up for another Friday Night Lights. Tessa came home for the weekend so even she will be going to the game! Three of us in the stands, cheering for Conard, and loving our tough guy on the sidelines.

I still have so much to learn from him.

Peace,
Kim