I am very much looking forward to my Peace Corps adventure, but I'm going to miss ultimate. I can very easily see myself missing ultimate more than I will miss Starbucks, or maple trees, or even running water. Because ultimate is more than just a game for me... it's a defining part of my life. Part of me comes alive when I'm playing that just isn't there other times. The focus and confidence I have on the field, knowing what my role is and feeling like I can do what I need to, and do it well... and do it powerfully, and have an unbelievable amount of fun while doing it... that's an experience unmatched by most other activities in my life. Probably my favorite position to play is hammer-stop, and I love to play there, because I know exactly what to do, and I relish the frustration on some wing's face when I'm there to stop her (almost) every time she cuts.
I love to run, but I run because it will make me a better ultimate player. And the more I play, the more I enjoy running, because it reminds me of the incomparable feeling of chasing down a disc, or staying step-for-step with the girl I'm defending (or staying step-for-step with the guy I'm defending). I wonder sometimes, what I would have found to be passionate about if I hadn't run into the Foxes practicing that Friday afternoon my freshman year... and that's a question I suppose I'll never need the answer to, because I found the best sport on earth.
