The Final Hurdle – Finale!  (continued from last week's column) “Violet’s Mom!  Violet’s Mom!”  My heart was still racing from the fall when I realized that there was someone yelling in the crowd, “Does anyone know Violet’s Mom?!” Wait.  I do!  That’s me.  “VIOLET”S MOM!  Where IS she?” “I’m right here!  What’s going on?!”  It was immediately following Violet’s first 200 meter hurdle race on our hometown track.  Violet, our 12 year old daughter, is showing promise and a heart for hurdle jumping.  After running her best, she fell right at the final hurdle and in front of a cheering crowd.  Her right toe clipped the bar at the exact moment she caught my eye in the crowd.  She blew her focus and crashed to the ground. Amidst all the commotion, Violet was scuttled off behind the track building where the EMT was cleaning up some pretty bloody knees.  The announcer was calling for the next group of runners over the p.a. system, when through the crowd, there is someone yelling for … [Read more...]