I understand that summer does not start for a few weeks now, but in my mind it started today.  Woke up this morning, grabbed my cleats and soccer shorts and jumped directly into my car.  No breakfast, no water (this would be a mistake).  On Sundays at Wyatt Field in my town, a group of locals get together for pickup soccer.  Guys I used to play with back in my high school days and some that are just in town for the summer.  The quality of play is actually very good and each player brings his own little edge to the game which makes it fun.

The thermometer in my car was reading 79 degrees at 9am when I got to the field and lets be serious, it did not get colder over the course of playing for two hours.  I haven’t run an 11 man side in quite some time as I spent my college days playing lacrosse at Boston University.  I forgot how much I missed the sport as soccer was always my favorite sport growing up.  Every aspect of my life so far has been to some degree shaped by my playing.  All my friends, many of the paths that I have chosen, and who I have become are all somewhat due to the sport.  I appreciate it for that and am so excited that I get to start playing regularly again.

A few hours in the sun after downing about 6 gallons of water after the games and I received a solid bit of Irish color.  Then a Red Sox day game which is quite possibly the greatest way to spend a summer day in New England.  A little BBQ and hanging out with a good friend and then taking the rest of the day nice and easy.  I love Sundays and I love them when the sun is out more than anything else.  Summer is here and its here to stay… well for awhile.