Recently, I attended the local high school football game with my parents and in-laws. It was a perfect Friday night in October, with the slightest breeze and clear skies- perfect fall football weather.
I did not grow up in a place that puts a lot of value on high school football. My high school’s team was- quite frankly- terrible, so there wasn’t a lot of excitement about attending those games. Cut to 15 years later and living in Thomasville, and I’ll tell you something: it is very important here.
So we all loaded up in the cars to be a part of a Thomasville tradition that transcends high school and instead involves the whole community. We sat on the tailgate before heading into the game, enjoying the sounds of the marching band warming up and lazily watching lovebugs drift through the air.
The stadium was packed and the feeling was electric- people were Ready. For. the. Game.
The details don’t really matter- you mostly know them already. What you’re picturing is exactly how it was. Small town, big dreams, so much potential.
The important takeaway was seeing the community come together to believe in something bigger than themselves. To see if the next Charlie Ward is on the field tonight, and to cheer the team on when the hits and heartbreaks come hard. Seeing so many different people from all walks of life, belief systems, and backgrounds rallying around a common purpose is a rare thing these days.
If you have a chance to catch a game in your hometown, be sure that you do. It may remind you why you live in that town in the first place.
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