Oranges at the Whistle

Growing up soccer was a huge part of my life. I began playing at the age of three and instantly fell in love with the sport. I had played for eleven years before I made the mistake of quitting my sophomore year of high school. Although I am now a fan not a player, I still hold the memories of my "glory days" close to my heart. Nothing seems to spark those memories like biting into a quartered orange slice.

My favorite part about youth soccer was halftime. Not only did you get a break from chasing a ball up and down the field, but whenever that whistle was blown... SNACK TIME! At the beginning of every season the parents were given a date in which they were responsible in providing the team with snacks at the half. Some parents were lame and brought stuff like rice cakes and grapes, but my mom knew better. Raising three kids on her, own who all happened to play soccer, she quickly learned that orange slices were the way to go. Not only were they healthy, juicy, sweet, tart, citrusy, and delicious, but after you eat the edible part of a slice you can put the peel in your mouth as a pretend mouth guard. I can't even begin to count the number of times I ran back onto the field with my face sticky, my jersey covered in juice, my stomach painfully full, and my teeth protected by an orange slice.

Years later I find myself on a path I would have never expected. Not only do I no longer play soccer, but now I actually dispose of my orange peels properly. Although so much has changed, I can no longer simply eat an orange slice without going back down memory lane.