from pucks to ponies

hockey night redefined

Our team sucks.

For the last several years, watching hockey with my son has been a bit of a disappointment.

Sure, we love to chat about who might be traded.

We enjoy speculating about what players might fall to our team at the draft.

But the hockey itself has been worse than mediocre.

Our team just loses.

Instead of hunkering down in front of the Tee Vee, we put the audio for the game on my phone and drive to the barn.

Reception there isn’t great.

The game comes and goes.

He grooms and rides.

I fuss about this, that or something else.

When we arrive, there’s usually no one else there. It’s late. The sky is huge and blazing with stars.

Everything seems extra quiet at this time of year. The blanket of snow deadens the sound while making everything seem to glow from all directions.

The barn feels like our own.

At the end, we put the horse away and hop in the car.

We’re silent - save for the game playing.

And the glow of being together?

It radiates from everywhere.

We return home. The game is disappoi…