Bocce Ball and Family

Bocce Ball by Brooks Gallman

It is tied nine to nine and we are going to ten. Pete, my older brother, is red and I am blue. Dad tosses the pallino, the white ball, and he tosses it close. It will go down to the last throw. I throw first, then Pete, after three balls each, I am closest. I position myself, lean over the concrete, and roll a safe throw. Now it is Pete's turn. I can see it in his eyes, he is going for the pallino. He throws overhand and hard and completely changes the game. 

Just about every time my family gets together, the guys gather around the grill outside and play Bocce Ball while dad cooks the food. I don't know why we do it, but I know almost every time we have a get together, we have to play Bocce Ball. This isn't the only thing we do, but it got me thinking of the things I will remember about my family and the things I will carry on to my family.

I think I will always remember and pass on the love and compassion we have for each other and the willingness to let each other know how we are feeling through most situations, even the tough ones. For Christmas, my family traditionally reads the story of Christ's birth and that is something I don't know if I can do without. When we get together, we usually eat, which is something I hope doesn't change and usually while eating, Matt, my cousin, Pete, Dad (sometimes), and I will try to stir up some funny conversation usually talking about smoking, cursing, and drinking. This is really funny cause my family is full of preachers, missionaries, worship leaders, and councilors and even though we don't have huge issues with some of those things, it is fun to talk about it and accuse Maw Maw, 85, of gallivanting, which she didn't do that then or now. 

Those are just a few things that I will remember. I am sure Bocce Ball will be remembered too, cause when you have close games like nine to nine, and it goes down to the last ball, you tend to remember when Pete hits the pallino and moves it right beside his ball that is blocking mine. Pete won and moved on to play the champ, Dad.