I’m doing something I’ve never done this weekend. I’m chaperoning an overnight soccer trip. John’s club team is competing in the State Soccer Cup tournament. Five days. Lots of stinky teenage boys.
Because this is Alaska the boys on our “team” are from all over the state. The tournament is held three hours from Anchorage in the city of Kenai. For those of you familiar with the term “city” – scratch that image from your head. It’s an Alaskan city so it has a Wal-Mart, a McDonald’s, fabulous scenery – and not much else. I’m lucky enough to be staying with the team manager and her family at a lovely house on the lake.
It definitely does not suck.
Our day began with an airport pick-up of two players from Juneau. I’d never met them, but John had played with them in the last tournament. I also had another boy from the team and the twinkies.
One minivan.
Two 5-year-olds.
Four 15-year-olds.
Me.
Three hours.
Riding in a car for that long with teenage boys brings up lots of important life-altering discussions. For example:
“Who would win in a fight? Mario or Luigi?”
“Which white rappers do you like?”
“How old is Yoda?”
“What’s Yoda’s last name?”
“Do you like this song? How about this one? Or this one? You have to YouTube them to hear the end.”
“Soccersoccersoccersoccersoccersoccer…”
Also, lots of sleeping. Not for me of course, I was busy trying not to get lost. I failed. But I did get a lovely tour of the area. And wise advice on directions from 15-year-old boys.
As soon as we arrived our host, Holly ushered the boys toward the awaiting dinner. Then she offered me a beer.
This chaperoning gig isn’t going to be too bad.
Ah, thank goodness for beer. You definitely earned it.
Looking forward to some of your snapshots at IG and FB! But the Yoda questions did got to me.
I’ll try to google the answers for those. Ha! 
Yoda’s full name is Minch Yoda and he was 900years old when he died peacefully on the Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi installation. Say hi John, I hope he stores these info next time the Yoda topic comes up with his buddies!
hahaha! I’m sorry, I know it would have been difficult driving while hoping you woudln’t drive out into Yellowknife by accident, but I love the visual of those teenage boys actually wanting to speak to an adult. I think you are one of the priviledged.
And a beer well deserved! I’m with Ava…photos, please!!
That’s what I’m talking about! What an awesome host you have! One thing you didn’t mention that immediately came to my mind with all of those boys in the confines of the van for 3 hours: smelly bodily functions. Did you actually manage to avoid them? Here’s hoping!
I just completed a chaperoning gig with 40 boys in Soldatna. I slept on a cot in the high school, and helped cook for 100 players while I was there. I don’t know if my back will ever recover, but I had a great time. No beer. The boys, the managers, and the coaches were hilarious. Best of all, all the smelly gear was transported in the back of someone else’s truck. Since my son is a senior, I doubt I will ever do this again, thank goodness. It has made me intensely grateful for my very comfortable bed and my very private shower. I hope you have fun!
Oh god the smell. I think a 12 year old and a 10 year old after school in a car with the windows up because it’s freezing at 60 is bad.
Have fun, Bridget. You’ll make anything fun!
The answer is always Mario.
Sounds like the perfect trip! Especially to end it with. A beer! Wish the boys luck in The tournament and good luck to you all pitting up with all those wonderful odorz only teenage boys can have. Lots of pics please!
Thank goodness for the beer! I do an overnight trip with 4th graders every year (50-60 of them) to Seward and the whole time I’m usually thinking about how badly I need a beer…Hope you have decent weather!
Any host that offers you a beer is Four Star quality! You might as well wash your face in it since it’s overnight. Hope you’re getting some kind of merit badge for this…
Perfect ending!