US Open National Volleyball Championships in Dallas, out of the medals in 60+ division (Brazil took Gold), but our Legacy 65 team went through undefeated for the Gold, though three teams took our matches to the third game and the score in the final was 15-13. I was fortunate to make the All Star Team.
US Senior Olympics Nationals are held every other year and this year it was in Houston. The teams must qualify in their region in alternate years. There were 17 teams competing in the 65+ Women's Basketball tournament which spread over June 18-22. Games are 12 minute halves with the clock stopped in the last 2 minutes of each half on dead balls. We play 3 on 3 which means less running and more bruising. The Celadrin Tigerette scores follow with us going undefeated through the tournament:
Lady Ball Hawgs 45-25
Canyon Nets 33-6
Classic Ok. 35-16
Texas All Stars 34-26
Smokey Mt. Hot Shots- 28-25
The last game had to be the most exciting of the event. Obviously there was strong rivalry between our team and the Smokey Mt. Hot Shots which is the same team we played in the 2009 Nationals and is featured on the Age of Champions documentary which is coming out this Fall. The coach of the Smokey Mt. team, as a response to me extending my hand and saying "Good Game, Coach", shook his cane in my face and vehemently declared "I'd rather hit you with this". His wife apologized on his behalf later but since that was just following the pool play, we were to meet them twice more during the double elimination. The final game was officiated by 3 referees with a fourth referee on the score table. People from the head table came to watch our finals and the stands were packed.
The Smokey Mtn. team lead most of the game with excellent outside shooting and strong defense. With seconds on the clock and us trailing by two, I scored from the three point line, and because my toe was on the line, it tied the game to force overtime. In the three minute overtime, the lead went back and forth. We scored to put us up one point but they stole the ball and released a successful shot....just after the buzzer had sounded. 39-38 How close was that!!! Our record is now 195 wins 5 losses and 7 National titles covering every age division 50-65 in the last 15 years of our team existance. Way to go Mavis, Kitty, Nicky, Loretta and Wannie! " Thank You Celadrin for your support and encouragement."
Kitty and Nicky went directly on to Washington DC where the documentary, Age of Champions, was nominated for an award at Silverdocs which recognizes the best documentaries produced each year.
Returning home with my two heavy carry-ons, I fell going up a huge flight of stairs as we were directed to a different security gate in the Houston Airport. I would have taken an elevator, but there was none evident and I didn't want to get lost as the directions were extensive....down here, turn right, up the stairs, turn left, down the corridor and turn right! Having survived with only minor bruising from the tournament, I now had bruises on both knees as well.
The next day, when I should have been resting, I loaded all of our possessions out of the rented furnished Condo in Burnaby. The owners were returning a month early so we were taking all of our stuff back to Nanoose. Our Condo was on the 24th floor with the van parked at the far corner on the 3rd floor. I made about 10 trips and just had a large wheeled suitcase, my backpack and two computer bags remaining. I figured one more elevator trip when I went to pick up Poul from work, and collapsed to watch TV. But when it was time to go, the elevator wasn't working. I put on my backpack, settled the rest in the apartment and ran down the stairs to the third floor, locking the backpack in the van. When I got to the 1st floor, I directed the elevator up to the 24th floor but couldn't get it to stay there while I loaded the rest of the bags. It had disappeared again. So one bag in each hand, I trudged down to the 3rd floor. Now, not only did my knees hurt but so did my thighs!!! LOL
Our new Condo isn't available until August but we booked their guest suite for the last two weeks of July.
I was so looking forward to two weeks back on the Island where I could line up some trades to complete our renovations, work in my garden and lie on the beach. And Poul had made arrangements to work remotely from home for the first two weeks of July. But when I picked him up with our last load of stuff on the way to the ferry he gave me the news! He had changed assignments; they wanted him onsite; we had rented another furnished condo for two weeks and would be back to start a New Adventure in Coal Harbour on Monday July 4th.
