After a hardworking effort against Desert Vista, the team enjoyed the opportunity to unwind during our last full day in Arizona. Starting off bright and early to a cold morning (cold by Arizona standards, anyway) we took a long drive to Montezuma’s Castle, a Native American ruin built into the cliffside. Despite learning that the dwelling was neither a castle nor inhabited by Montezuma (false advertising!) everyone agreed the view was truly majestic.
After driving further on the highway, flanked on either side by the unbelievably impressive desert landscape, we stopped in Sedona for lunch and souvenir shopping. While many Arizonan trinkets were purchased, perhaps the most memorable was a team gift to Andy: a sheriff’s badge inscribed with his name, which he now has to wear for the rest of his life.
After a long ride home, we ended our trip with a wonderful shirt-and-tie dinner at the hotel. Several other patrons complimented our team look, including one man who we will never forget. After telling us several randomly corny jokes (most of which involved his cut physique in some way) he told us the following African proverb: “Every morning a gazelle wakes up, knowing it must outrun the fastest lion, or it will surely die. Every morning a lion wakes up, knowing it must outrun the slowest gazelle, or it will surely starve. Every morning, whether you are lion or gazelle, you must wake up and run.”
The boys seemed to appreciate the proverb, though maybe less so once we get back to school practice and endless conditioning drills. Regardless, with the dedication the team has shown to service, lacrosse, and each other on this trip, I have no doubt the Foxes will truly be lions when we return for the Friends League this year.
