"Can I have a blanket?"

We are in metaphor country.

This weekend, I traveled down to the shore for our gymnasts' Regional Championships. It was the finale to their season, which began in October.

I wasn't sure how the meet would go. A new environment, lots of activities, lots of giggling and running around the hotel. Sunburn and stubbed toes from the impromptu soccer tournament on the beach. These do not necessarily translate to a good competition.

"We're on a business trip," I said. Nod nod giggle giggle.

But they did, in fact, find focus and pulled off an excellent meet. They treated second place like first place, running into the gym and yelling, "WE GOT SECOND" with their banner. They congratulated one another on every score and clapped throughout each other's routines. They made fun of each other. They got on each other's nerves. They looked out for each other.

All of which has something to do with gymnastics but even more to do with friendship, and comaraderie, and a certain generosity of spirit. Things that remain after the chalk settles.