I remember his first little YMCA season when making a basket caused my quiet kid to do a fist pump in the air over his head on the way back down the floor. I knew his basketball career was going to be fun to watch.
Jaron has had winning seasons and losing seasons. I am not one to really dwell on the numbers and the records. I think I have always watched basketball a little differently. First of all, I am there to watch the game. Please don't sit by me and ask me lots of questions about what just happened. Less talking, more watching. I want to see everything that is going on out there. The obvious stats have never been the most impressive components of the game to me. I appreciate those things, and of course I cheer for them, but the things I pay attention to the most are difficult to quantify in the score book.
I like points and rebounds and steals as much as the next girl, but does basketball light my kid up? That is what I like to see. Does my kid have a good attitude out there? Does he do what his coaches ask of him? It is hard to measure respect. I notice the chest bumps with teammates when things are coming together. I see the way Jaron takes every opportunity to hand the ball to the referees when they need it. The way he encourages his teammates when they make a mistake. How do you measure consideration of others? I love walking into the gym on any given game day with the confidence that Jaron will find the open man whenever humanly possible. And set extra screens if he thinks it will help. It is hard to measure selflessness. I love his rebounding efforts in spite of my holding him back from being the height he wanted to be. I can't help being proud of the way coaches have always tended to put him on some of the most challenging opponents when they want that kid to stop scoring...and then that kid stops scoring. It is hard to measure heart.
Tonight, at the end of his last game, I went to Kevin to draw a little strength. He saw I was starting to struggle and said quietly, "It's just basketball, Val. It's a game."
I nodded. "I know. And my favorite things about watching Jaron play basketball are things he will take with him."
He said, "I know." He gets me.
I am sad that his basketball career has come to an end. It's not just about falling short in a District Championship game on a cold Friday night. It is the end of an era for us. A decade of sharing events like this with our son and family, his teammates and their families, and the coaches along the way. When you stay in one place for very long you are watching at least a dozen boys grow into young men right along with your own. You celebrate with them. You laugh with them. You encourage them. Sometimes you cry with them. I just want to thank you for all of the memories. What a ride. I have enjoyed watching Jaron play at every age and stage and with every team he has ever been a part of, win or lose. This year, on the front of their team warmup shirts it says, "FAMILY." I am grateful we got to be a part of this Hornet Family.
