Lucky

Well, I attended the BIG game (World Cup match, England v. Algeria) and it was everything you could ever expect. The stadium, Green Point stadium here in Cape Town, is immaculate. The fans were there to support their respective countries, and the British sang the national anthem throughout the match. It was extraordinary . . .

I only started watching the World Cup in 2006 (yes, it's a shame). I missed all those years of Pele and the Brazilian dynasty, or the great German victory . . . and Maradona at his prime. I missed all the blood and passion, and fighting and glory, for 30 years. Then, in 2006, Leigh visited Mexico and the next thing you know, she came back talking about "El Mundial", and I was hooked. I watched Zizou head butt some guy and still win the respect of millions (even though his team lost the game).

I spoke to another guy from the U.S. yesterday and he said this of folks in the U.S. and soccer. He says that he heard from someone that we'll never "get" soccer. That soccer is about playing as hard as you can, and even sometimes being the best team, but by some "fluke" or little mistake, the other team scores a goal, they win and you are left with . . . well, that's life. The best team doesn't always win.

I LOVE that, and believe it's true. Life is not always fair. You can be the King one day, and the next day just a pauper. It's life. It's all grown up . . . and most people just 'get it'.

There's this concept in social psychology, it's a "fallacy" -- something people believe in that's just not true. It's this idea that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. Some folks call it "belief in a just world". Not so. Bad things happen to good people all the time, and oftentimes they get better. Good things happen to bad people, and sometimes they don't deserve.

All I have to say is, good things happen to me all the time and contrary to what some may believe, I don't deserve. It's all very complicated. I am often humbled. I am blessed, and I just feel 'lucky'. :-)

Kelley