Yesterday I was watching a show I enjoy called " Living East". It's on CBC - the Canadian channel- and is about various lifestyles, interesting places, history, etc on the east coast of Canada.
The host interviewed a hockey team yesterday, "the Huffer's N Puffer's". They are a group of senior men that play hockey 2-3 times a week. The YOUNGEST player is 60 years old, the STAR (#9) is 78, the Coach is 83 and he refer's to the team as "the boys". It was wonderful to see this group of 20 or so totally engrossed in what they loved to do, playing younger teams, laughing, loving life, and smiling all the way. The team Star said that while at 78 it took a couple of shifts/lines on the ice to work all his kinks out, after that he played like he always has. Another said he was a little tired after the game, but after a hot shower he was ready for coffee with the team and a full day.
I enjoyed this short interview so much I wanted to write about it. It's funny how some days the oddest things show up to inspire and move me. I thought about the beauty of these gentlemen and the pride they had in just having fun. I admired how they live in the moment, enjoying each game to the fullest, not to win or lose, but to just really play. While they surely had a competitive streak it was light hearted and filled with jousts and teasing. They play at this game for the sheer beauty of playing, of the feel of the skates on their feet, the stick on the ice, and a good slap shot when it happens. They play not for the next game, or the big cup, there isn't one. They hope they are here for next weeks game, but to be certain they play like every game is their last with utter joy and inhibition.
WOW! I haven't seen hockey expressed that way since I was a child playing in my back yard with the neighborhood boys. Or since I watched my nephew when he was 3 play. It was nothing but revelry to actually touch the puck, and then usually most of the team fell on it, but we/they loved every second refusing to stop until the skates were frozen to our feet.
Yep, it gave me some great perspective and inspiration and has me thinking about what I might do/play with a team again, just for the fun of it, and the joy of the game.
Namaste'
The show on Thursday Mar.1, 2000 is at this website if one wants to watch, scroll ahead to about 3/4 way to find the Huffers N Puffers interview.
http://www.cbc.ca/livingeast/
