Pendragon Pride

Last night after listening to the first part of the Pender girls' basketball game in the car, D-man, Marshall, and I all huddled around the computer to watch the Pendragons claim their first state girls' basketball championship. Other members of the Karlen family were watching in Minnesota, Arizona, and in person. D-man got nervous at the end of the game - it was cute.

Recently, I have had 2 separate discussions with women from Nebraska that have left the state and have young children like me. Both of them talked about the sense of community and the support system in a small town. And each talked about how we won't have that for our children. When one is 500 miles away and watching a high school girls' basketball game online, one is reminded of the influence of that community.

While I have no expectations that Louisville will provide the same support system that one gets in a town such as Pender, I do hope that it provides us all with a sense of belonging. From running into a kid from the musical while getting our haircut to sitting here in the library while T-man is at a new session of reading buddies (with his same buddy!), we can definitely start to feel it a bit. I can already see the positive effects on D-man - he wants to join every local sports team, he notices when someone is wearing Monarch gear, and wants to attend every event at the school.

And even though we don't live in Pender, I'm glad the boys are able to go back and enjoy all the great things a small town has to offer. And soon, they will (hopefully) be able to enjoy the same things here in Louisville.