A few weeks ago I wrote a post about bucket filling and I
got an amazingly positive response.
I’ve heard some great stories from people who have used bucket filling
in their daily lives. My mom
bought the book as a Christmas present for my little cousins. I heard from two
teams out west who are going to start a program like ours. Personally, I got
some really sweet text messages from friends congratulating me on my impact. If you used bucket filling with your
family, friends, office, team, or wherever I would love to hear about it, no
matter how big or how small. I’m
hoping that I can collect some stories and use them in a future blog post to
help keep the bucket-ball rolling … so to speak. Send me an email at alison.chalke@unb.ca
-----------------
Seventeen months ago I packed my life into a few suitcases
and boxes and flew 5,000 kilometers to a community I knew very little about,
and who knew even less about me. I
played out west, so I knew what I was getting into; I could balance a full
course load with a basketball schedule, I could handle and mediate conflict
with teammates, but my knowledge of New Brunswick consisted of a third grade
project on the Hartland Bridge and some really scary looking snowstorms on the
Weather Network. Now that I’ve settled in here I feel like I just need to take
this chance to tell the people of Fredericton that you’re awesome.
Last year I’d come out of the locker room after a game and
head back upstairs to watch the boys play. I’d sit on the baseline bleachers with the girls on my team
who were also from out of town, or with Barb, or with Coach Speedy’s kids, but
other than that I didn’t know anyone.
In the last year and a half I’ve felt so adopted by the community here.
Now while the boys are playing I don’t even have time to talk to all the people
I want to see.
I was looking at some stats the other day and I noticed that
we have the highest game attendance in the AUS, and one of the highest in the
country. I think that is pretty
awesome, and a real testament to how amazing our community is. One of the reasons I came to UNB is
because of how involved the team is in the community. I haven’t really posted about the stuff we’ve done because I
don’t want it to seem like that’s the reason we do it but lately I’m noticing
that for all that we “give” we get back more than I realized.
I remember being approached at half-time of a game last year
by a girl in the first grade who wanted my autograph. I’d been to her school earlier in the week with the Read
With The Reds program, and she had brought the book I’d given her for me to
autograph. I hadn’t even taken off my warm-up top but this kid had come out to
see me. I was floored.
I’ve said it before, and you’re probably getting tired of
it, but my team is like a family, and by extension their families are mine too.
Linda Speedy cooks the most amazing team suppers, and Mel’s mom has a ‘mom hug’
for me whenever I need one. But the community that I feel a part of is so much
bigger than that. Whether it’s a pat on the shoulder from Mr. Springer as he
walks by the bench, or my roommate and her friends cheering for me from their
seats right at centrecourt I just feel so welcome here. It didn’t happen right
away, but somehow over the last year and a half I’ve really started to think of
Freddy as home.
Yours,
Allie
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment