Recap & Reflections

The roar of our fans was deafening. Flags were flying. People were singing, dancing, and cheering at the top of their lungs.

It was a celebration of celebrations.

No one would have ever known we just lost.

The men’s team lost 5-15 to the English team. But no one cared. We were so proud of the men for making it to the European Finals that we may have well won. We cheered long after the English fans grew weary of us drowning them out, causing them to grow silent and stare enviously at our party. We kept celebrating until the men got their medals and jumped into the stands to sing and dance with us. And the celebration continued all night long.

I still get goosebumps thinking about it. I felt part of something much bigger, swept up in the excitement and euphoria of Ireland lacrosse. Our pride and energy caused us to win the title of “Best Supporters” of the European Championships. Not a gold medal, but we will take it!

It has been three weeks since the final game. I promised myself to post updates every day, but the days blended together, making the championships feel like an alternate reality.

My knee is a daily reminder that the championships were not so long ago. I hyper-extended it in our game against Sweden, side-lining me for our final rematch against the Netherlands. Convinced it was a MCL tear, I chastised myself daily for babying my knee and limping about. I learned two days ago that I fractured my tibial plateau in the impact, which is why I was still in such pain when walking. No surgery, but I’m on crutches for the next three months. Quite a souvenir! However, I took so much more away from the experience than an injured knee…

I made great friends from all over the globe. I played midfield for the first time and fell in love with the ability to play both sides of the field. I loved being part of a team, especially a team that represents Ireland with such fierce pride. I learned to be gentle with myself when I’m injured, as I would be to others in that same situation. I experienced true camaraderie between the men’s and women’s teams that was unparalleled by any other team at the tournament or any other team I’ve been part of. I learned how to be a better coach by being a player again.

Our team did not end the tournament as we hoped. We tied one game and lost our last two games by one goal. The difference between 5th and 8th place. While it was disappointing to end in 8th place, we grew a lot as a team during our trip together. We all took away something different from the trip, but we will always share our time as the 2012 Ireland European Championship team.

I’m not sure what the future holds for me. I have to focus on healing my knee so I can get back to coaching full-time and training for our October trials. I don’t know if I will be ready for tryouts, but I will cross that bridge when I come to it. I can’t rush my bones to heal, though I wish that I could.

I know our 2012 Ireland team will never be the same again. I hope I’m part of the team, but we shall see. Either way, I’m honored to have been part of this team and to have had this incredible experience. Thank you to all the people who supported me. I am so appreciative for every text, post, email, call, and hug that I received.

Hope to see you in the 2013 World Cup. GO IRELAND!

Some fun pics…

Finishing Strong!

Day 7, Women’s: Ireland vs. Sweden, L 14-13, Double Overtime

Men: Ireland vs. Sweden, Semi-Final, W 13-8…On to the FINALS vs. England

“That’s what learning is, after all; not whether we lose the game, but how we lose, how we’ve changed because of it, and what we take away from it that we never had before, to apply to other games. Losing, in a curious way, is winning.”   – Richard Bach

Losing a close game always feels much more devastating than getting blown out by a team. Especially if you knew that you were the better team. We were in it today until the final whistle, two overtimes later.

The sun beat down on us, zapping any lingering reserves of energy we had stored. Exhaustion was etched into every face. Sweat dripped generously from our brows. Bruised and tired, we fought until the end when we lost in sudden death.

At this stage of the tournament, so much comes down to legs. We were low on subs to begin with and getting into a footrace with two speedy Sweeds was out of the question today. In spite of everything, many people stepped up ad played their hearts out. Devon, our resident race horse, ran up and down the field like a gazelle, while I felt like an elephant with legs like lead.

Ironically, my leg feels the exact opposite now. More like jello. I went down early in the second half with what appears to be a MCL sprain from hyper-extending it. I went for an interception and a girl fell into me, causing my knee to go in an unnatural direction. I tried to come back into the game, but my knee gives out when I try to pivot, causing waves of nausea and pain. Hopefully it is just a sprain, but I will know more once the swelling goes down.

As a player, the tournament is over for me. As an avid Ireland supporter, I am getting into rare form. I’m disappointed about my knee because we face the Netherlands tomorrow, and I would like nothing more than to personally avenge our bogus tie with them. However, I will be talking it up on the sidelines as we vie for seventh place.

This is not the path that we had hoped for heading into the tournament. Obviously, we would like to be competing for a medal. Gold, preferably. However, we learned a great deal, came together as a team without much team training whereas every other team has been practicing for months, and we improved every match. Unfortunately, we didn’t win it all, but who knows what the future holds? This team is scrappy, athletic, and determined. A good combination for success.

Tomorrow is our last day together as a team. After this we will go our separate ways, always sharing the bond of the 2012 Euros. I can’t quite believe it is already over. In some ways it feels like we’ve been here forever, and others, like we’ve just begun. This team will change with some people leaving and some new ones coming. But tomorrow we will celebrate together. Even though we didn’t win a medal, we came a long way as a team. We have a lot to be proud of. And this is not the last you will hear of Ireland lacrosse.

Speaking of…THE MEN’S TEAM ARE IN THE FINALS TOMORROW! They take on England at 7 pm tomorrow night. It is so exciting for our program, and I am ecstatic for them. They are a great group of guys who were not anticipated to take the tournament by storm. Don’t sleep on the Irish! Our team will be there in full effect, cheering, screaming, singing, and waving our flag. The guys have supported us in a similar way for most of our matches, and it really makes a difference. There’s nothing quite like being on the pitch and hearing lots of people screaming your name and cheering you on. We will bring our A game for their game.

No matter what, the men’s team is doing Ireland proud. It’s great for our program and a testament to how hard the guys have worked. They played England during the tournament and lost by four. Small potatoes. We can do it. GO FOR THE GOLD, IRELAND!!! We believe in YOU!

Playing as a Team

Day 5: Ireland vs. Switzerland, W 20-5

Solid win over Switzerland. It was not our prettiest game, but we were still able to pull out twenty goals from many different shooters. My roommate Meabh, #7, and Aoife, #11, both scored their first international goals, and Aisling, #10, was tallying up the assists. I nearly went nuts when Meabh scored. I was out at the time, but otherwise I would be caught on film jumping all over the place.

With Aoife and Meabh celebrating their first international goals! Awesome job!

Vanessa, Caroline, and I all had four goals on the day and hope to repeat that trend again today against Wales. With the draw against the Netherlands, we were hoping that our goal differential would be better, placing us in third going into the Quarterfinals. Germany only beat the Netherlands by one, so we move on to take on the reigning European Champions today at 5 pm. More to come about that.

We had a rocky start to the game yesterday, our mood matching the overcast day. Luckily, we picked it up with some key saves by Amy in net and found more of a rhythm on attack. The refs are very conservative with calls, so we have had to be really disciplined when it comes to just about everything. Checking is pretty much out of the picture unless you want to end up four meters behind with annoyed coaches on the sidelines.

This check against England wasn’t called, but I am opting for body position from here on out.

The photographers are slacking on posting photos from our last three games. I hope that they put some up soon, so you can see us in action. Hopefully they will at least post some pictures from the men’s Quarterfinals against Germany. The men lost to Germany in regular play by one goal in triple overtime. Yesterday, they came out with fire, putting Germany on their heels and scoring relentlessly. The took the win and my voice. I was screaming and singing so loudly that my throat is raw. Our team supported them in full effect, including using a drum, flag, and even some face paint. That’s how we roll.

Getting ready to crush Germany!

Random fan celebrating the victory!

After the game, we came back to the hotel to prepare for our big game today. Luckily we have until 5 pm to prepare to be giant killers. The men’s game yesterday reminded us how heart, determination, and fire can be the perfect ingredients for success.

Wales is an excellent team. So are we. We just need to put sixty minutes of excellent play together and leave everything on the field. Then, no matter what happens, we will be proud of the outcome.

While I’m staying positive mentally, my body is betraying my hidden nerves. My stomach is all over the place and my dreams were filled with lacrosse. We need to play with the same defensive composure that we did against the Netherlands with the attacking prowess as we had against Austria and Switzerland.

I was honored to get the “player of the game” for marking out the Netherlands best player. Shifting to straight defense felt like coming home in a weird way since I played that for most of my career. However, I have to admit that notching some goals has been really fun as well. I can see how attackers love finding the back of the net. So far Laurie, Vanessa, Katelin and I have received player of the game, though there are many other players who are extremely deserving as well. Caroline and Devon both being prime examples for their play all over the field.

My hope for today is that the entire team receives the “player of the game” honor. Meaning we all play so well that it would be impossible to select an individual. It starts with the draw. Sixty minutes. Composure. Determination. Heart. And the will to win.

LET’S GO IRELAND!

Fearless

Day 4: Ireland vs the Netherlands, Tie 6-6

Today, I had my first draw since little league soccer. Our game was neck-and-neck, trading possessions, fouls, and goals with the Netherlands. We were evenly matched, and it was a fun game to play. It was the first time that we really looked like a cohesive unit all over the field.

We were up by three goals after a heroic effort by the attack, with Caroline leading the charge. A stick check call after a goal changed the momentum a bit, disallowing the third goal and opening the window for the Dutch. We allowed the Netherlands to get two quick goals to tie it up with less than a minute to play. With less than thirty seconds on the clock, I pulled a charge against the Dutch, much to my great relief. My girl was like a bowling ball on feet, with a fierce shot to boot.

When the whistle sounded both teams were fired up for overtime. We wanted to end it. Knowing for sure which team would claim third place in our bracket. Excited and energized, we ran to our huddle awaiting information about overtime.

But that was it. The end of the game. No winner or loser, just a draw. In the European Championships?!? Talk about a let down. We were at the boiling point and then we were taken off the burner, frustration brewing beneath the surface.

Tomorrow will be a day of truth. If the Netherlands lose to Germany, we will be tied in our bracket. This is assuming we win against Switzerland. If we win and they lose, then it comes down to point differential. We have the first game of the day, so we need to score, score, and score some more to put us in the best position possible to vie for third.

I played straight defense today to mark out their main scorer. It was fun to be on d, but I missed the action of attack. I have no clue where I will play tomorrow, but I will do anything the coaches want if that means we will win. I would be the water girl, play goalie, or dance the Macarena if needed. Actually, the Macerena would be an added benefit.

Our phrase today was “no fear”. We played fiercely, with much more control and composure than in prior games. We played with heart and pride, but we never gave up or let down, even when calls did not go our way. We dug deep, and I believe that we would have come out with another W if we were allowed to do overtime.

At the end of every game we sing “Ireland’s Call” to the fans. Even though I was frustrated with the tie and a sore hamstring, I am transformed by the song. We sing with so much soul, and the song in itself makes you bleed green pride for Ireland. I am trying to get a video of us belting out the words with our supporters joining in for the refrain of “Come the day and come the hour. Come the power and the glory. We’ve come to answer our country’s call, from the four proud provinces of Ireland. Ireland, Ireland, together standing tall. Shoulder to shoulder we’ll answer Ireland’s call!” Ahh, gives me chills just writing it. Such a powerful song.

And what supporters we have…

I’m off to bed. We have an early AND important match against Switzerland tomorrow. I cannot express my gratitude for all the support from the states, especially from my amazing boyfriend, family, clients, and friends. THANK YOU! It gives me so much energy and you are here with me in spirit. Keep sending those good vibes. We can use them!

GO IRELAND! And good luck to the men who play a BIG game against Germany tomorrow!

 

 

Playing with Heart

Day 3: Ireland vs Germany, L 7-14

Hustle. Heart. Sweat. Tears. Frustration. Excitement. Exhaustion. Teamwork. Together.

This sums up the match yesterday for us against Germany. It was a frustrating game, to say the least. The score does not reflect how close the game actually was. The score also doesn’t tell you how many fouls were called on Ireland for sneezing in the direction of the Germans. It doesn’t tell you how many times we worked hard to get the ball back, celebrated intensely with a goal, and how many hits we took. The score doesn’t show how much we improved as a team with every passing second, and how much we learned from the loss.

Hopefully our game today against the Netherlands will.

Against Austria our word was “pride”. Yesterday against Germany it was “heart”. While the game did not end with a victory, we played with heart. And I’m proud of that.

The Morris sisters smiling in a huddle against Austria

The men’s team won in four overtimes against Finland 8-7! Go those boys in green. They have been at our last two games supporting us, and it makes a big difference. It is quite something to hear people singing to you while you play. As I have said before, the support between the men’s and women’s team is special. It sets Ireland apart from other countries.

Men’s goal against Sweeden. Two wins in a row!

Here are some good pictures from the Austria game. The pictures have not posted from our game yesterday. When they do, I imagine that they will show us throwing our bodies all over the field. Ironically, I was thrown down on the field hitting my head on the turf and Germany got a yellow card warning. I did a quick stick to goal with just me and the goalie and got a yellow card for dangerous propelling. Hmm…

The bruises look much better in real life. Shows I’m using my left a lot!

Great triple team. Please note V’s face. Classic! Warrior!

Ok off to beat the Dutch. Wish us luck! GO IRELAND!

Irish Pride

Day 2: Ireland vs. Austria, WIN 19-3

YES! A “W” for Ireland.

Today we played like a different team than we did against England. We were more relaxed, energized, and confident. The energy started well before warm-ups and carried us through the cool-down. From the first draw, we were focused and intense, doubling the ball all over the field and working together on attack.

Our three captains, Rebecca, Katelin, and Robyn, came up with a great idea to write “Pride” on our wrists to remind us why we were here and what we were playing for. Not only did it make for cool photos, but it helped when I was tired or frustrated to look down at my wrist to find inspiration to stay positive. Dig deeper. Push harder.

I played midfield again, scoring five goals…a new high for me. It is great to play on both sides of the ball. I normally prefer attack or defense, leaving out the running in between the restraining lines. However, I am enjoying the new challenge of taking the draws and playing middie.

My teammates are so supportive and fun to play with that it makes the game much more enjoyable. Caroline, who is going to Vanderbilt, had another impressive day scoring five goals as well. Even though she is the youngest and I am the oldest, the age difference doesn’t factor into our friendship on or off the field. She plays for a rival high school at home, and it will be great to cheer her on in her senior season when we return.

My friend and teammate Laurie got player of the game against England for her defensive efforts. The fact that our coaches planned in advance to bring us shirts for the “player of the game” shows how deeply they care about us and Ireland lacrosse. Their commitment, encouragement, and coaching makes a significant difference on and off the field. As we do to salute other teams at the end of the game, give me three cheers for Laurie: Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray!

Today we play Germany. They beat Austria by a similar margin, and I imagine it will be a tough game. They are very fit, tall, and athletic. So are we. Looking for Green to pull out another win. Yesterday was a good day for Ireland with the men’s team beating Sweeden 12-4.

Wish us luck for another repeat. GO IRELAND! BEAT GERMANY!

 

 

 

And so it begins…

Day 1 of 8: England vs. Ireland

Yea…about that…

The match did not go as well as we had hoped. We lost by a significant margin. It was a very physical match, and judging from my photo, the fouls were flying both ways. I have two massive bruises on my head and let’s not even talk about my arms. The fact that a major foul of mine was caught on film is not a plus, but I consider us even after the bruises my teammates walked away with. Well, maybe not completely even…

While it is never fun to lose, I know that the team made major strides today. Considering the fact that it was our first time ever playing as a team, plus the fact that we are playing the fourth ranked team in the world, I think we handled ourselves a bit better than what the score reflected.

I have a laundry list of things to work on (guess I will add “no cross checks” to the list), but mostly I need to remember to have fun with this amazing group of girls. I get in my head and frustrated when I really play better and enjoy myself more when I’m not calculating all of my mistakes. Who benefits from doubting myself? The other team. I certainly don’t.

We are getting prepared to face Austria tomorrow at 5 pm. Hopefully, I will have good news to report. It won’t be worse than today, so that’s already a plus!

After the game I spent some time with my mom and dad in downtown Amsterdam, the city of crazy bikers. Cars trump bikes and bikes trump people. Basically this translates to watch out. Pedestrians do not have the right of way, and a bike may hit you because you’re moving too slowly. No joke. When I took a team here last summer two of my girls were hit. I think it has gotten worse.

My dad arrived today in time for the game. Such a trooper. He arrived at the field, bags in hand from the overnight flight, ready to cheer on his team. Exhausted, my mom and I got him settled into his apartment after the game. I was starving, so my mom and I went in search of food, one of my favorite things in the world. My experience with the food so far has been subpar, at best. We were recommended to try a local Dutch restaurant called Moeder, “mothers” in Dutch. How fitting. We had a great meal for the second day in a row. Success.

Yesterday the team went into Amsterdam, and I stole away for a little over an hour to have lunch with my mom. Instead of hitting one of the tourist traps, we asked a local man where the best place for pasta was in the area. We ended up at a cute Italian restaurant off the beaten path with loud Italian waiters paying tons of attention to us and shouting undecipherable things to each other in Italian. Felt pretty authentic.

After another good meal tonight, I met up with the team to cheer on the men against the Netherlands. They gave it a good go, but lost the lead with one quarter to go. Hope that the luck of the Irish will kick in for both teams tomorrow!

One of my favorite things about wearing green and playing for Ireland is the camaraderie. The Irish bleed loyalty and teamwork. After every match the men’s team goes over to their fans, clapping to the fans in appreciation of their support. The women’s team sings “Ireland’s Call” to our supporters, which chokes me up every time since the song drips with country pride. Mine grows daily.

Off to bed to rest up for our big game tomorrow. I think that we will come out fighting from the first whistle. GO IRELAND! BEAT AUSTRIA!

 

Getting Into Full Swing

2012 European Championship Ireland Team before the Opening Ceremony

I have been a busy bee.

We woke up yesterday a bit sore and energized to run the mile. I got a personal best of 6:05, and the entire team cruised in with good times. After two hours of practice following the mile, I couldn’t believe that I was disappointed we were done for the day. I enjoy playing with this team so much and being coached by our coaches that I would have been happy to stay on the pitch for hours more. Pretty unusual for me.

We traded our training shorts for khakis, revealing that there were actually attractive people behind the goggles. We loaded the bus with the men’s team and headed for the opening ceremony for the tournament. Over 2,000 players lined up, chanting their country’s song, and sporting brand new gear splashed in their colors. We waited outside the arena to be called, bantering with the men’s team and snapping photos in line.

The ceremony was held in the arena where the 1928 Olympics were held and will be again in 2028. The Olympic rings covered the entrance, making us feel like we had entered into a new threshold. Many hope and expect that lacrosse will be an Olympic sport by 2028, if not way before. Fingers crossed.

Today was another great day. We did team stickwork this morning and I led everyone in a modified version of yoga sun salutations. I’m not giving up the stick for the mat anytime soon. My yoga skills could use some work.

We headed to the pitch for lunch and practice, giving us a chance to scout some of the other teams. I am impressed by the overall level of competition and athleticism on each team. I’m a tall girl, but there are some talllll girls on other squads. Massive.

I am officially playing midfield, which is exciting and bit intimidating since I have not played it before. However, I love playing on both ends of the field, so I’m sure it will work out. And work ME out.

After practice we watched the men’s game versus England. I have been on many teams in my life, but the support and unity that the men’s and women’s teams have is unparalleled. I felt so overwhelmed to be part of this amazing group of players, signing at the top of my lungs supporting Ireland and the men.

My mom arrived today and my dad arrives on Saturday for our first match against England, our toughest competition. I imagine that it will be powerful to put on the green and orange uniform knowing that I’m representing my dad’s entire side of the family, especially my grandparents who have both passed away. I’m sure it will be quite a moment for my dad as well.

Well, I’m off to bed. Tomorrow we have an early practice and then will head into the city for the first time since we arrived. It has already been a whirlwind, and I already consider my teammates dear friends. I can only imagine how much closer we will be after this. There is a special bond we share and an energy that each girl possesses. Our coaches all played for Ireland in the 2009 World Cup, and they share the same passion and enthusiasm that we do. It is a great group and I am blessed to be part of it. GO IRELAND!

Training Time!

First day of training, and I’m dog tired. Exhausted. Sore. Exhilarated.

For the first real time playing together, I am astounded by how well we gelled. People were picking, moving off ball, and hitting feeders like we have been playing for months together. Stick slaps and “good” games were heard all over the field. Guess all those mass emails paid off in the chemistry department.

I’m still adjusting to the accents and word differences. I’ve gotten used to calling the “field” a “pitch” and a “uniform” a “kit”, but there are many other phrases that are lost on me. Luckily, “ball” and “help” are the same.

I love everyone on the team, and I am getting really excited for playing together. Tomorrow night is the opening ceremony for the European Championships. We just got heaps of great gear tonight, so hopefully we will look “smart” tomorrow. Another English/Irish word that is thrown around quite a bit.

I had two “you know you’re in Europe when…” moments today. First, our rooms. We have a double room. In the states, a double room implies two double beds. Not here. We are in a glorified shoe box with two twin beds pushed together. Talk about getting cozy with your roommate. We each get our own set of sheets, but we could cuddle with ease if we chose to. Thankfully, we won’t.

Second moment was my encounter with the vending machines. I went to grab water and passed a vending machine solely for beer. Imagining a beer vending machine in the states is pretty wild. More telling that I was in Europe was that the water cost the same as beer. If the games weren’t right around the corner, what would be my incentive to drink overpriced water when this machine was right next to it?

Well, I’m off. We have early breakfast and a timed mile in the morning, followed by practices. I’m still not sure what time it is, but I know that I need to sleep now or I won’t get to.

Have a great day!

 

Travel to the EUROS

“When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money.  Then take half the clothes and twice the money.”  ~Susan Heller

The wait was finally over. After six months of training and days of fretting, the day was finally here. I was heading to Amsterdam to compete in the European Championships for the Ireland Women’s team. Eight games in eight days. Over 2,000 players in attendance. Over 20 nationalities represented. One incredible experience.

I had my bags packed, my checklist crossed off, and I was ready to head to the airport to fly to Amsterdam. Or was I?

Packing for my trip was a struggle. There are four seasons in one day in Amsterdam, so I had to prepare for anything. Sweat pants? Check. Raincoat? Check. Sundress? Check. Quite the combination. Being an clotheshorse and over-packer by nature, luck was not on my side for shoving all my gear into one bag. I ordered a bag long enough to hold my sticks, turfs, and gear. Everything fit without any problem. What a relief!

Until I tried to pick it up.

I forgot one small detail. The size. It could easily double as a body bag. So while I was impressed with myself for fitting everything, I neglected to acknowledge that filling a four-foot long bag to the brim would weigh a ton. And it did. And the bag does not have rollers. No dice.

Judging it to weigh well over 50 lbs, I grabbed a smaller bag and began chucking clothes and gear between bags. Did I think to leave things at home? Nope. I just made more room to off-set the weight. I’m heading to Europe for three weeks, but packed for three months.

Everett, my amazing boyfriend, hauled my bags to the car and off we went to the airport with three hours to spare. I was flying out of Dulles International Airport, purgatory for all travelers. Having had a bad experience before at Dulles, I wanted to allow extra time before my 5:55 PM flight. As soon as we pulled up I knew that I was right. The line wrapped through the lanes and overflowed halfway down the terminal.

I was pulled from line by an attendant because she was worried about my bags being too heavy. My three-bag scheme fooled nobody. Rats. I wheeled myself to the scale, heaved my bags on to find that my body bag was exactly 50 lbs. But I wasn’t out of the clear just yet. My carry-on bags needed to weigh 25 lbs combined. The scale doesn’t lie. I was over by five pounds. Inwardly scolding myself for bringing 80 lbs of who-knows-what to Europe, I asked how much it would cost. $100 unless I took some articles out and wore them to the check-in counter. Well that was an easy answer.

While slowly weaving through a ridiculous line, I begin to look even more ridiculous with each turn. I pulled clothes from my bag and layered like a kid going sledding for the first time. My butt grew four sizes as I wrapped top after top around my waist. I waddled up to the counter hoping the attendant would not comment on the fact that I was clearly wearing a few pounds of extra clothes around my midsection. He didn’t seem to notice. Better yet, he didn’t weigh my carry-ons. All of that for nothing, except maybe the entertainment of my fellow passengers.

Now, for security. I held my breath as I prepared for what would await me at the bottom of the stairs. A massive blob on disgruntled travelers immediately came into view. Traveler’s dreams go to die at Dulles and this was just another day. Like cattle, I was herded with the rest from one end of the airport to the other. All the while I was stuck behind a man who smelled like onions. I’m sure he is a perfectly nice man, but come on. Mandatory deodorant application should be administered when they are checking your boarding pass to enter into security if you will be stuck there for over an hour.

The woman behind me missed her flight. The clock was ticking on making mine. Although I had allowed over 2.5 hours for this endeavor, I was still not on my way to my gate. I sent my bags through the scanners, anxiously eying the time. As I waited for my bag to be scanned, I heard the TSA agent say, “Um, I’m trying not to freak out, but do you see this?!?” Crap. I knew immediately what they were concerned about. In my bag swap, I put my stim machine in my carry-on. The stim machine is in a black case with lots of wires. Doesn’t take a genius to realize what they assume I’m carrying. The dreaded b-word.

Luckily, I was not seized on the spot. An explanation fell clumsily from my lips as the agent eyed me cautiously. Thankfully the case was deemed acceptable, but everything had to go through the scanner again. Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

I hurried to my terminal to grab some food to carry on the plane when I heard the final boarding call for my flight. Classic. A younger Sarah who always reached the gate in the nick of time would have still been waiting at the ticket counter covered in clothes. Instead, I heaved a sigh, grateful I have learned a few things over the years.

I boarded the flight only to find that I had a front row seat to the baby brigade. Directly diagonal to me were two infants, one toddler, and one 3-year-old all joining in a chorus of cries. Thank goodness for ear plugs. Ear plugs and complete exhaustion.

Seven hours later we touched down in a rainy and cold Amsterdam. 52 degrees and raining was not the welcome I had hoped for. I ran into some other lacrosse players in the terminal, which instantly warmed me up with the excitement for the days ahead.

I paid the extra 20 euros for early check-in, grabbed a big breakfast, and headed to bed. Devin, one of my teammates, was arriving many hours later, so I hunkered down to snooze for a bit. Devin’s knock on the door woke me up. Head pounding and completely disoriented, I stumbled to the door to let her in.

After lounging for a bit, Devin and I grabbed a burger for dinner. So American of us. Ironically, I hardly eat burgers at home. Go to Europe to eat like an American. Oh well. We wanted a safe and easy meal in the hotel, and we got it.

Now, I am off to bed. I barely know what time it is or what continent I’m on. It is 10:40 pm here and the sky is just beginning to go dark. Such a change from DC. Hoping to be fully rested and energized for our first day of practices tomorrow where the new players have to serenade the existing girls with Ireland’s National Anthem. In Gaelic. I don’t think mouthing “watermelon” will cut it. I will keep you posted.

Erin Go Bragh!