Arch-nemesis

When I was in junior high and high school, I always competed against this one girl.  She was the popular one whom everyone liked and every guy wanted to date.  She excelled in all that she did (or so it seemed) without even trying.  We played soccer together and I felt like she was my biggest competition on the field.  A part of me despised her because she seemed to have it all - looks, brains, personality and athleticism.  We both tried out for Penn’s Forest (a premier traveling soccer club) and the one year she made it and I didn’t.  It was like she was rubbing it in my face all the time.  During our senior year of high school we had kind of bonded, mostly because we played soccer together and were around each other all the time.  Keep your friends close and your enemy’s closer, right?  We talked, we laughed, we cracked jokes - it actually felt like we were really good friends.  Then graduation hit and we went our separate ways. 

It’s been about 4 years since I’ve seen that girl, but somehow I feel like it’s high school all over again. 

Next Saturday are the tryouts for the USA Women’s National Hockey Team.  I plan on trying out.  Now whether I make it, well that’s a completely different story.  Anyway, so… there’s this girl, let’s call her Curly Sue.  She’s my arch-nemesis when it comes to hockey.  She’s very talented at the sport.  She’s fast, she’s very athletic, and she plays on every team in the tri-state area.  It makes me sick how good she is.  I know she will be trying out for the National team.  And I’m almost certain that she’ll make the cut.  I feel like I’m in high school all over again though.  She’s good and she knows it.  It’s like she doesn’t even have to try.  Yet, here I am, playing as much as I can, almost killing myself playing the sport, and I can’t quite get up to her level.  I really, really want to make the team.  I want to accomplish something spectacular.  I want to prove to everyone that doesn’t think I can do it, that I can…that I have what it takes.  And a little part of me wants to show her up. 

I want to do something great.  I wish I had gotten involved in this sport when I was little because I absolutely love it.  All of these girls that will be trying out have been playing floor hockey or field hockey for many years.  I’ve been playing for 2.  Maybe I’m not good enough to make the National Team, but damnit, I deserve a shot at it.