I am “We” and “We” Are All Together

So, our club is hosting a MAJOR soccer tournament this summer. It’s a HUGE tournament – four thousand kids are coming to our town to play at our fields. We have tournaments all the time. But, I would say the tournaments are local, with a team or two from each age group showing up from another state.

The tournament scene is old hat. Each team does the same job every Fall and every Spring. And the people that run the tournaments are the same people every time. They are the “they” that people commonly refer to when discussing the upcoming changes in our small-town, soccer lives that generally are not discussed, presented or even emailed out to the group.

You know how it goes, “They” said that we were not going to be able to do that this year. “They” said that “they” were picking the coaches for our team and that “they” would tell us how much we are going to pay them.”

“They” have generally become my enemies – well, not enemies – more like antagonists. Everything “they” do pretty much ticks me off. Why? Because generally, “they” are the decision makers – who don’t take “us” (MyGirl, her teammates and their parents) into consideration – AT ALL – EVER.

In my opinion, “they” don’t handle things well. “They” decide, but don’t communicate. Or listen. Or respond.

A couple of years ago, when “they” were making some changes, I wasn’t real happy. I sent emails asking questions that no one responded to. I left messages and no one called me back. So, since our club is a non-profit organization, I decided to request the one thing that according to the IRS “they” have to give me – their financials. (Still don’t have them.) I requested a copy of their by-laws. (Don’t have those either.)

So, in general, I became a big, fat Pain in Their Arses. I feel sure that collectively, “they” hate me. But finally, “their” dream came true and I gave up. I threw in the towel and realized that "they" will eventually get "theirs" - or "they" won't.

Just in case you don’t know it, I tend to be a bit of organizer. I am a Type “A-minus” personality. So, when planning something, like say - a BIG tournament, I am a good person to have on your team. And somehow – I am on this tournament committee. (I know exactly how I ended up on the committee – I like to punish myself and I volunteered. But, in my defense, part of me thought "they" would say, “No thanks, we’re covered. And by the way, we hate you.”)

So last night, I went to the first meeting about the BIG tournament. Talk about awkward greetings and salutations. It was almost comical. "They" do hate me. But, they like that one of the committee slots is filled. (Just wait until "they"see what I can do with an Excel spreadsheet.)

So for the next six months, “they” will try to be nice to me and I will try to believe that “they” are not complete YAHOOs. (Try is the keyword in that sentence.)