This is Probably Obnoxious But... · Jun 25, 10:27 AM
Ten years ago I purchased my first house and in the process of moving decided that it was silly to hold on to all of my past trophies from my youth. What was I going to do with all these little plastic men bouncing soccer balls atop tiny marble bases? Perhaps a large glass case adorning the entry to my home in the same vein as the case of glory whenever you enter a high school? A little too “much” for my refined tastes. So I packed away a box and carted it to the dump along with other mementos (no need for old girlfriend pics either.) I did remove a small trophy I received for coaching my bad news bears fifth graders to a championship while I was a senior in high school (kids=great, parents=suck.) I don’t know which end of my closet it is currently nestled in. Oh well.
As life progressed, I managed more than my fair share of recognition and thick pieces of lucite with my name on them due to my career. The office is jam packed with them when you enter, much in the same way that case of battered footballs and signed photos announced the past to each new class at high school. Apparently my refined tastes can live with this set-up.
I did not realize these design awards were filling a void in my life until a recent event. A championship! In sports! Not boring old life!!!!
My co-ed soccer team went on a tear late in the season and bulled it’s way through the playoffs winning back to back games in the final minute to win the winter league in January. It felt good but I didn’t get caught up in it. Or so I thought…
We received our trophies marking this accomplishment this past Thursday at our league game. They are appropriately cheezy with a big hollowed out soccer ball (the black and white checked version that they haven’t made for 20 years) on a swoosh of plastic from it’s tiny marble base and the gold plaques with my name right there. I really adore this ridiculous thing!
I left it out on the kitchen table so that the first thing my daughter asked in the morning was “hey – who won this trophy?” Why it was daddy sweetie – now eat your oatmeal or we will be late…
The trophy then accompanied me to the office where I placed it down wherever I went making sure to have the plaque facing the person I was talking to. I did this in a serious fashion.
Obnoxious? Of course! Hard earned? You have no idea.
— John Foster
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