Where in the World Cup was I?

          Every four years, I enjoy a month of soccer... as many games as I can manage to watch.  The best teams in the world are playing some of the best games the world will see.  World Cup time is glorious for me.

          When I finally sat down last night, I thought of the great games I'd seen during the day.  USA beat Algeria.  England beat Slovenia.  Germany beat Ghana.  Australia beat Slovenia.  The USA will face Ghana on Saturday, but I'll miss most, if not all, of the game!  We'll be on an airplane on the way to Montana.  My brothers should arrive in Montana in time to cozy up to a television (either in the airport or at a nearby establishment) and catch the game.  The thought of finding a way to watch the game even while on vacation reminded me of watching a Cup game in downtown Santa Fe, NM back in 1998.  And then I realized that I have very distinct memories from World Cup Tournaments for the past 16 years - dating back to 1994!  So, where was I?


1994:  The World Cup happened on U.S. soil!  I was 16 years old, and my Dad managed to get our entire family tickets to two games at Soldier Field in Chicago.  While I only have vague memories of the teams we watched, I'll never forget the atmosphere in that stadium during those games.  Simply spectacular!  I also remember that my dad recorded almost every single game on VHS tape!  I think he used them later to show our club teams (or at least my brothers and me) how effective diving headers are in games!  (Dad loves those diving headers).

1998:  I had finished my sophomore year at Mizzou.  Our family was taking a vacation to New Mexico before dropping Garrett off at the Air Force Academy for his Beast summer.  I remember finding a bar and grill in downtown Santa Fe to watch the U.S. games.  From New Mexico, I flew to Missouri where I spent the rest of the summer working at Kanakuk Kamps.  Kanakuk set up a big screen so the soccer fanatics could watch the semi-final and final match!

2002:  I had finished my first year of law school and was taking a full load at summer school (Evidence and Tax law).  I remember how challenging it was to fit in games in between all of the reading and studying I had to do, but I somehow made it work.  (Yes, I passed my summer school classes).

2006:  Matt and I had been married for 3 years, and I was pregnant with Audrey!  We're in Phoenix while Matt completed the F-16 B Course (training).  I'd watch games while resting on the couch in our house.  I also remember going to the Fox and Hound Pub to watch the USA play Italy.  We tied that game.  It was a great game.

2010:  Audrey is 3 1/2, Claire is 7 months old, we're spending the summer in Missouri with my parents while Matt is deployed.  We'll be in Montana during 2 weeks of the tournament!

          I love the distinctness of my World Cup memories.  I love thinking about the journey my life has taken over the course of the last 16 years.  Where will the next four years take us?  Only time will tell...