For some time I have watched little Megan Jackson struggle through every skill, desperately trying to keep up. She's got the perfect gymnast body, but has had so many challenges to overcome in her short life. She and I are in the same club, this is what I told her when she told me her Mom had died and I knew how she felt. She only knows me as "Emily's Mother". Which is funny, I remember calling Jimmy Daly's mother "Jimmy Daly's Mother", kind of sing songy, like Megan does now to me. But it's usually when she's getting off the bus from school into the gym... "Emily's Mother... can you braid my hair?" :-) I am going to miss that... Laura, you're doing the braiding now and she looks beautiful!
Meet after meet, my heart would go out to Megan, her disappointments on not earning enough points to make it to State, not getting a "real" medal, just a "participation" medal... To see her cry into Dad's shoulder because she just couldn't reach her goal, and then I'd look at my kid who wins everything in sight, and cries when she doesn't get a "real" medal in all events... and want to stomp her guts for being so insensitive... well today was a Mastercard Moment for all.
Not only did Megan get a "real" medal in every event, she podiumed with a 2nd place win on Beam and placed 6th All Around in the Junior A Division! The look on her face was in fact "priceless"! The look on Dad's face was a Kodak moment, but for me, the best was when she ran up to jump into the arms of her "new" mom, Laura.
This was good for Emily too. She was so proud of her friend Megan. She also finally realized how much the medals really mean when you work so hard and they're just out of your grasp...
Today was a good day. Megan's hard work finally paid off. She got her chance to shine. She's such a beautiful little thing and I thank God that I have been privileged to bear witness to her success today.
Emily goes tomorrow. I pray she keeps her cool.
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