WAITING... AND WAITING... AND WAITING....

There is an old expression when you are in the Army - or probably any government service...

"Hurry up and wait."

Standing in line is part of the deal, and it isn't just if you are a soldier.

It's also if you're a family member.

And it doesn't matter if you're just alone - or if you have three small children with you.

You get in line.

And you wait.

And wait.

And wait.

So I'm an old hand at waiting in line.

I have a couple of tricks.

I ALWAYS always always have a book in my purse/backpack.

And I am WONDERFUL at striking up conversations with ANYONE.

People always like talking about themselves.

And if they don't, they love complaining.

Time just FLIES then.

THE SUPER BOWL AT AGE 6

Watching a group of five and six year-old boys play tag-football is way beyond amusing.

They all LOVE hiking the ball at the beginning.

And the whatever the-stomping-on-the-ground-in-place-with-your-feet-way-apart is called.

Shouting out their team name together is fun.

But then some things are just a wee bit difficult for them.

Such as actually catching a football that comes up in your face unexpectedly.

Watching where the football actually goes.

Listening to what your coach is screaming at you to do.

And, what seems to be scariest of all, is someone who suddenly is running after you with the obvious intent of HITTING you and knocking you TO THE GROUND.

At times like these, running wildly away from everyone else on the field seems perfectly reasonable and logical.