I remember, and it doesn’t seem like it was that long ago, when Friday nights meant going out on the town with friends or the start of a road trip to visit a close friend in another city. And then a night on the town.

My, how things have changed! These days I spend most of my Friday (and many other weekend) nights at sporting events, mostly soccer games, watching daughter play with her high school or club team. And you know what? I can honestly say I don’t miss that “singles scene.” Although I’ve got many, many great memories from those years, I wouldn’t trade cheering on the team with the rest of the parents for anything. Yes, I guess you could say I’ve traded in one set of Friday night friends for another.

I think it’s important to enjoy whatever phase of life you’re in, otherwise, what’s the point? And for me right now, that means sitting on hard bleachers, getting pumped up watching the girls knock each other around, wincing when daughter takes a bad fall and screaming when she schools another player. You know, the typical thrill of victory or agony of defeat.

It’s much nicer when they win, but even when they don’t, there’s no place I’d rather be.