Erin had a goal this golf season - to break 80 for the first time. As Erin explained to her non-golfing friend, you want to get the lowest score you can!
Erin had been breaking 40 in some 9 hole meets, but hadn't been able to "go low" in an 18 hole event. Here in the O'Hara household, you'll hear lots of golf lingo. The three of us are always trying to go low... I'm afraid my days of glory (if I ever had them) have passed me by. Dan and Erin are both better than me now.
On Monday, Dan walked and watched Erin in the Jewel Invite in Lake City. She played some really good golf, but had a couple tough holes at the end and finished with 82. Still, her best score of the year.
Until yesterday. In the Big Nine Conference meet at Mississippi National in Red Wing, Erin shot a career best 77, including a one over par back nine. The MGG team had it's best ever day under coach Myhro shooting 333, and finishing ahead of Winona and Northfield, two teams we lost to during the regular season. MGG finished second as a team behind state champion Red Wing.
It was my turn to walk and watch Erin yesterday. It sprinkled and rained most of the day, but neither of us cared.
People ask me "Do you watch a golf meet?" If you're like me and Dan, yes. There is nothing more enjoyable - and nerve wracking - than walking along for 18 holes and watching Erin play. I got a little melancholy yesterday thinking there's only one more year in Erin's high school career.
All that's left of this golf season is the Section Tournament starting June 1st. But, we've got some ground to cover before then...
Dan left yesterday for a 9 day tour of Michigan: Work, then play, then more work. After this week's work is done, he has a guy's golf weekend at a Michigan resort with a championship golf course. Then, to make the most of his time, he will stay in Michigan early next week to see customers again. 9 days is a long time to be away from home, even for a traveling salesman. I hope he packed enough underwear...
There are just eight school days left for Erin and then finals. She's got two physics projects, a Human Geography final project, and AP Literature final project and then exams in Math, French, and Physics. Oh, and she misses two of those 8 days for the section golf tournament!
Junior year is a crusher for kids, so I'm hoping she can make it to the end relatively unscathed. She's close.
Erin's got a summer job lined up working at The First Tee, teaching kids golf lessons. She's got a full slate of volleyball and golf laid out for the summer as well. We talked about senior pictures and college applications and... uff da... I need to stop. One thing - one day - at a time.
As for me, I'm just doing my thing... working and running the homestead as best I can. Everybody's happy so that means, I'm happy, too. It's a mother's role. And I'm OK with that.
Mother's Day 2017
Happy Mother's Day to all who mother, support mothers, are mothered... that means all of you!
Today doesn't feel bittersweet as it has in the past. I don't have an explanation. I don't miss Shannon less than I did last year. Maybe it's the passage of more time. Maybe it's my ongoing work to stay in the present and enjoy today. Maybe it's Miss E who is thriving and allowing me to really enjoy being her mother. She thanks me often and tells me she loves me every night before bed.
My own mother is back in Minnesota now, and able to be present for things now - holidays and Erin's activities. We have the three generations together more often now, and that feels good.
So, today is a day to feel good about who I am and where I'm at and to celebrate the fact that I'm being the best mom I can be.
This week gave me a chance to see my kid in action, doing things she loves.
Erin had her best day ever on the golf course, shooting 38 in a 9 hole meet on Thursday. First time she's broken 40 in a competitive event. When Dan and I were saying to her that it's too bad she didn't get to play 18 on that day, her response was priceless. "No, I'm glad it was only 9 holes. I finished bogey, bogey, bogey so I was kind of captain crumble!" That made us laugh.
Today doesn't feel bittersweet as it has in the past. I don't have an explanation. I don't miss Shannon less than I did last year. Maybe it's the passage of more time. Maybe it's my ongoing work to stay in the present and enjoy today. Maybe it's Miss E who is thriving and allowing me to really enjoy being her mother. She thanks me often and tells me she loves me every night before bed.
My own mother is back in Minnesota now, and able to be present for things now - holidays and Erin's activities. We have the three generations together more often now, and that feels good.
So, today is a day to feel good about who I am and where I'm at and to celebrate the fact that I'm being the best mom I can be.
This week gave me a chance to see my kid in action, doing things she loves.
Erin had her best day ever on the golf course, shooting 38 in a 9 hole meet on Thursday. First time she's broken 40 in a competitive event. When Dan and I were saying to her that it's too bad she didn't get to play 18 on that day, her response was priceless. "No, I'm glad it was only 9 holes. I finished bogey, bogey, bogey so I was kind of captain crumble!" That made us laugh.
The other big activity of the week was Mayo prom. Prom is not just a dinner and dance. The necessary steps to get to the dinner and dance include: going with your date to get his tux and accessories to match your dress, ordering flowers, getting your nails done, getting your hair done, having a friend do your make up, getting dressed together with friends, then pictures in a pretty location, more pictures at the school with other friends who weren't in your initial picture group, and on and on...
It is fun to see them all dressed up and looking beautiful. Erin's group included her two best girlfriends, Lexie and Liz, and her best guy pals as well. Erin and her friend, John, looked lovely together.
While they look stunning in their formal poses, my favorite pictures of the night were Erin, Lexie and Liz and their lovely spirits on full display...
With friends like these, Erin's life is good. Seeing my kid happy makes my life good, too.
Happy Mother's Day to me...
Thursday May 4, 2017
I awoke this morning to bright sunshine. It has been many days since I remember that sensation! We have had a gray, wet spring so far, but it looks like a nice stretch of weather through this weekend. Thankfully, we will have time at home to enjoy it. Life has been a whirlwind lately...
Last week, Erin had a golf meet Monday, then went to volleyball practice. I'm not sure how she's maintaining her grades, but she is! Thursday, her volleyball team headed to Minneapolis for a 3 day, weekend tournament. Erin stayed behind to compete in Thursday's golf meet and then would join her team on Friday morning.
Thursday the temp barely reached 40 degrees, but the girls played. It snowed on them. They kept going. There aren't too many high school sports that require 4 + hours of concentration in extreme conditions. If you can play high school golf in MN, you can do anything!
Erin finished her round at 7pm, shooting 85. She was the meet medalist for the first time in her career. After that, home to shower, eat a pizza and pack. The alarm woke us up at 5:30am and we were out the door at 5:45, headed for the Minneapolis Convention Center. 13 hours after finishing her round of golf, Erin was on the volleyball court competing with her club team.
When Erin made the decision to play on this off-season volleyball team, we knew it would be tough to juggle it all once golf season started. But, Erin's goal is to be a contributing part of next year's varsity volleyball team at Mayo, and this is her way to get the touches she needs to improve. She is determined, and mama bear here will do whatever I can to help her achieve her goals. Even if it means driving to Minneapolis at 5:45am on a Friday!
The weekend volleyball tournament was fun. I stayed downtown Minneapolis for a little Jen-cation. Dan, who got home Thursday night just in time to have pizza with us and say hello and goodbye, stayed home to care for the pets and have some down time as he is traveling again this week. The hamster wheel is spinning quickly for the O'Haras right now...
But, it's all good. Our jobs are good. Erin is doing well in school and managing to juggle all her activities with success. What more could we ask for?
Just a month left in Erin's junior year of high school. I keep reminding myself to soak up every minute of it and enjoy the ride...
Last week, Erin had a golf meet Monday, then went to volleyball practice. I'm not sure how she's maintaining her grades, but she is! Thursday, her volleyball team headed to Minneapolis for a 3 day, weekend tournament. Erin stayed behind to compete in Thursday's golf meet and then would join her team on Friday morning.
Thursday the temp barely reached 40 degrees, but the girls played. It snowed on them. They kept going. There aren't too many high school sports that require 4 + hours of concentration in extreme conditions. If you can play high school golf in MN, you can do anything!
Erin finished her round at 7pm, shooting 85. She was the meet medalist for the first time in her career. After that, home to shower, eat a pizza and pack. The alarm woke us up at 5:30am and we were out the door at 5:45, headed for the Minneapolis Convention Center. 13 hours after finishing her round of golf, Erin was on the volleyball court competing with her club team.
When Erin made the decision to play on this off-season volleyball team, we knew it would be tough to juggle it all once golf season started. But, Erin's goal is to be a contributing part of next year's varsity volleyball team at Mayo, and this is her way to get the touches she needs to improve. She is determined, and mama bear here will do whatever I can to help her achieve her goals. Even if it means driving to Minneapolis at 5:45am on a Friday!
The weekend volleyball tournament was fun. I stayed downtown Minneapolis for a little Jen-cation. Dan, who got home Thursday night just in time to have pizza with us and say hello and goodbye, stayed home to care for the pets and have some down time as he is traveling again this week. The hamster wheel is spinning quickly for the O'Haras right now...
But, it's all good. Our jobs are good. Erin is doing well in school and managing to juggle all her activities with success. What more could we ask for?
Just a month left in Erin's junior year of high school. I keep reminding myself to soak up every minute of it and enjoy the ride...
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