Happy 8th birthday Camden Godfrey
It’s been a crazy year to say the least. A global pandemic, sure. But also just a whole lot of ups and downs and all arounds. And sports! Here are some of the most memorable things you’ve done over these tumultuous 12 months
Jack Camp:
Last summer, with all sports and activities effectively shut down due to something called covid, a couple of enterprising high schoolers (Jack and Wyatt) decided to fill the gap (and their pockets) by running a “camp.” As far as I can tell, it was $20 per kid for two hours of whiffle home run derby. But at a time when we were all stuck at home all day every day, this was money incredibly well spent.
One week, you hit three home runs in the first round — more than any other kid (including Colt), and also apparently a record for a 1st grader. Thus you were the “top seed” for the playoff round. Around the same time, I started throwing you whiffles in the backyard and you were mashing, hitting several onto our roof. Could this be where it all clicks for you? Baseball greatness just over the horizon?
Fall Baseball
Your spring season was unceremoniously cancelled almost before it started, but thankfully by September we had clearance to run fall baseball camps. No games, but practices and drills with minimal restrictions (e.g., no catchers). I was excited to see how your recent success at Jack Camp would translate.
Well, on the first day you got hit in the head with a ball, and henceforth were terrified to even play catch. Coach Tony (Triple H) and Coach Darren (Lazlo’s dad) worked closely with you, and slowly but surely you started to come around, even if you didn’t really seem to enjoy it.
All the coaches, including Jon (Carter’s dad), were adamant that you have the ability to be a really good baseball player. They believe in you. I believe in you. Hopefully you’re starting to believe in yourself. Time will tell
Covid Hair:
For most people “covid hair” meant an unkept tangle of thinning hair begging to be cut (guilty). Or a majestic mountain man beard that your wife hates but which actually looks pretty damn amazing (also guilty). Or, a rocking ‘gangs of New York’ mustache that even your wife has to admit is seriously boss, but she still makes you cut off because I guess all good things must come to an end (super duper unbelievably guilty).
But enough about me. For you, covid hair meant (and continues to mean) these amazing locks of awesomeness that earn you big props for handsomeness and earned me kudos for the best home haircut of the lockdown (ok, I guess it’s still a little bit about me). Even a year later, you’re still owning the look. One day I’ll convince you to get that Glen Plake mohawk going.
Reading:
You’ve gotten really into reading. Your preference is to read Epic on your computer, but if push comes to shove you’ll grab a real actual book. Your favorite is “Wings of Fire”, or almost anything else involving dragons and fantasy.
You got the latest Wings of Fire for Christmas and literally read the whole thing cover-to-cover without putting it down, shunning all your other new toys until the book was finished. It’s actually not uncommon for you to just sit on the sofa for an hour or more and read books you’ve read multiple times prior. Of course it’s also not uncommon for you to get lost in an iPad for hours when we let you. Or to run around like a crazy person screaming and provoking your siblings. All the more reason for me to treasure those quiet reading moments. And it’s good for your brain too, which is gravy.
Speaking of crazy…
Rough housing:
You and Colt are CONSTANTLY going at each other. Often it starts innocently enough, with you drawing nearer each other on the sofa through some strange unexplained magnetic force. This of course leads to brief physical contact, which then escalates into kicks, slaps, hair whips, and eventually full-scale wrestling. I yell at you to separate, you both tell me that the other one started it, and we sort of move on.
Occasionally it’s more deliberate. Playing tackle football in the front yard. Or fighting over a very specific stuffed animal or blanket that you absolutely must have immediately. Or just deciding for kicks to use baseball hats to create makeshift horns and slamming into each other head first.
You know, super mature stuff like that.
Thankfully, you guys usually keep it fun. You’re bored whenever he’s not around and vice-versa. And you’re both willing participants in the chaos, unlikely Clara who seems to get sucked in against her will. But if I take enough pictures of you three I will occasionally capture* that rare moment when you’re all having fun together. Like this gem:
Football Preseason:
If I asked you earlier this year what sport you like best, you’d certainly have said “football!” Why? I suspect this direct quote will shed some light: “I want to be a football player so I can ‘truck people’.” Nuff said.
For a couple month stretch, you’d grab me during a school break to throw the football around in the front yard. You’d throw on the run, catch on timing routes, and ask me to “throw it above my head” so you’d be forced to catch with your hands.
Sometimes you’d play tackle football with Colt. In one particularly spirited session, Colt was all-time offense with you trying to tackle him. He’d put on a quick juke and run past, after which you’d simply say “again” and line-up for another try. And another. And another. 30+ minutes during which he’d get past you most of the time (he is 2 years older after all), but where you’d occasionally grab hold and throw him to the ground
I love the persistence and desire. We even experimented with some placekicking, which was fun, but I’m not sure we uncovered the next Vinatieri. Maybe Janikowski is more like it? Nah, let’s stick to running, throwing and tackling for now.
In the winter you played in a Next Level camp with a bunch of 3rd graders. The first week you were drafted ahead of Colton, and backed it up by scoring a couple touchdowns. You were SOOOO happy. You didn’t touch the ball as much in future weeks, but you more than held your own against kids 1–2 years older than you. Chasing Colt around the yard will do that for you I guess.
Next Level Football:
When Next Level football finally got started, you were all in. In the first game, down by 8 late in the 2nd half you had a 31 yard run on third down, then ran for a TD on the next play. Unfortunately we couldn’t get the conversion to tie it up. No worries, it’s just a scrimmage game anyway.
Coach Brandon had you play a bunch of quarterback, and you had multiple completions in the first couple games, including a long touchdown pass in the 2nd game. As usual, you played aggressive defense with lots of flag pulls and several sacks on blitzes. Like prior seasons, we lost more games than we won, but you played well and had a lot of fun.
Spring Baseball — Tryouts:
I wasn’t sure what to expect with spring baseball. You still didn’t seem too jazzed, but you did have a bit more swagger. At tryouts, you fielded and threw well. On one of your hits you almost killed Robyn with a line-drive right back at her that knocked the balls out of her glove and prompted the other dads/coaches to ask Robyn “what did you do to make Cam so angry?”
A couple days later we were throwing the football and I mentioned how proud I was of your baseball tryout, and how practicing throwing and catching a football was paying off:
You: “I’m getting better at catching.”
Me: “You’re getting better at throwing and catching. And it’s helping you get better at both baseball and football.”
You: “So I’m basically Bo Jackson.”
Yup, exactly like Bo Jackson
Tahoe:
We rented a house in Tahoe for a weekend back in November. You and Colt would go outside to sled, dodging trees as you raced down the empty lot next door. Then you’d pillage whatever snacks we’d allow before descending on the hot tub to strike silly poses and count how long it took for different chunks of ice to melt.
We went to a couple real sledding hills too (if you consider a golf course a “real” sledding hill), but nothing made me happier than sitting in a nice warm (and quiet) house while you guys played together outside. It wasn’t that long ago that you relied on me or mom (or a screen) to entertain you 24/7. It’s definitely a sign that you’re growing up and becoming more independent.
“School”
From August through March school was entirely over Zoom. You were SOOOOO bored, trying to stay focused but mostly drifting off mentally during meetings and lessons. (In fairness, adults struggle mightily with this too). The work load was pretty light, no more than a few hours, with a lot of that being “brain breaks” or free time after finishing your work. It’s a good thing you like reading books, because that seems to be how you spent most of your time.
Eventually you were back in school for 2 half days per week (starting in March) and eventually 5 half days (from early May). The workload was still very light, and yet somehow you would often “forget” to complete your assignments. Sometimes it was as simple as not filling out your reading log, but it led to more than a few contentious moments with mom and me, and at least one “get out of bed” event to complete an overdue assignment.
We’ve supplemented with extra math and writing, so thankfully the learning has happened, albeit painfully (for everyone). We just need to tighten up the discipline a bit. So you have that to look forward to in 3rd grade.
But you must be learning something if you feel confident enough to try and teach Grandma, who you finally, mercifully, got to see after 16 LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG months away during the pandemic. Thank god for modern medicine.
Basketball:
Next Level basketball was cancelled last fall, but you never got much out of that anyway. Thankfully, we found a couple additional enterprising high school kids who wanted to earn unseemly amounts of money for what amounts to outdoor babysitting on a basketball court that may or may not involve the actual playing of basketball.
Regardless, you were with your buddies, and have started developing dribbling skills, along with the strength to get the ball up and into the hoop on a more regular basis. And your defense is as tenacious as ever. And, like the other camps and activities, it gets you out of the house and with friends for a few hours a week, which is no bad thing (for you and me).
Fashion:
During your seventh year on earth your uniform was a long sleeve shirt tucked into shorts. Always. In your eighth year, you still love the long sleeves, but mercifully have stopped tucking them in. And you still rock shorts no matter the weather, but you also pretty much always wear black tights underneath. You wear them even when it’s 80+ degrees, although the various large holes make them pretty breathable (see previous photo). And of course, you are very particular about which mask you’ll wear — opting only for a De Soto single-color that slips down around your neck when not in use. Which, maybe not coincidentally, is the only mask I want to wear either.
The only weather-specific alternation you make is whether to wear your Next Level hooded sweatshirt. Or, more specifically, whether to wear Colt’s Next Level hooded sweatshirt since yours has not-so-mysteriously disappeared.
Whatever, you can wear what you want I guess. Although…If I had a request it would be to please stop wearing your sleeves over your hands. Especially when playing sports! It’s hard enough to pull a flag or dribble a basketball, especially when you have tiny little 8 year old hands. Don’t make it even tougher by hiding your hands inside your sleeves!!!
Sorry, rant over. Fashion over function I guess. Let’s just move on.
Random Excursions and Shenanigans:
Gaby took you and your siblings to the aviation museum one day. Apparently your favorite thing was the flight simulator. As you “flew” the plane you remarked “Don’t question me on this. I’m the crashing the plane master. I crashed it three times.” I have no idea what that means, but sounds intense. Of course, your other favorite thing was getting a boomerang from the gift shop. Because it’s always about the gifts.
We took a trip to Carmel Valley Ranch, which involved some epic swinging, as well as some not so epic golfing. I think you might have connected with a few balls at the range, but what I remember most is when you (accidentally?) threw your club over the fence of the nearby construction area. I’m quite certain that club went further than any of the balls you (or mom) hit that day. Let’s stick with football for now.
You lost a lot of teeth this year, which generated a steady stream of income. Once, you accidentally swallowed the tooth and were very concerned about the potential financial implications. In an act of desperation, you left the following note.
More recently, you planned to put a lost tooth under your pillow but not tell Mom or I about it, hoping to verify once and for all your suspicion that the tooth fairy is in fact one of us. (For what it’s worth, I also suspect Mom). But the potential downside risk was too great (or maybe you were just too excited?) for you to keep the secret. Alas, I guess you’ll never really know for certain. But I’m pretty sure it’s Mom.
You are finally learning how to swim. Only took eight years for Mom and I to get our act together on this one. Sorry about that, but you’re looking pretty good now!
Spring Baseball
After a rough Fall Camp but an impressive tryout, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. In our first game we played against the River Bandits (Carter, Alex, Lazlo, Jaden, Quinn and Sully’s team) and got demolished 20–7. We’d only had one practice prior (thanks rain), and it felt like we had some serious work to do.
In the second game you had a monster triple over the left fielder’s head and made an out catching a throw at first base. Fast forward to the last inning — ahead 16–11, two outs, runners on 1st and 3rd. You’re fielding the pitcher position, and the ball is hit straight back at you. The conventional play would be to throw to 1st for the easy final out. Instead, you take off towards home and bowl right through the runner who was heading home from 3rd base, sending you both tumbling to the ground. You jump up and triumphantly raise the ball above your head. Game over. You actually made a similar out at home to end the last regular season game, and again in the All Star game. I guess pitching is your position (as a fielder at least).
My other favorite play for this season was in the third game when you hit a single, beating the throw to first by a step or two. Even though the first baseman had the ball, you simply rounded the corner and headed for 2nd (nevermind the runner who was already on 2nd who now had to take off running for 3rd). The other team overthrew second (because of course they did — it’s Single A/Cal), and you ended up on 3rd with an RBI. Coach Wilson asked if our first base coach sent you, and you simply replied “I ain’t listen to nobody.” I’m glad it worked out for you, but just remember two things:
- As you get older, the 1st baseman is very likely to make that throw, the 2nd baseman is likely to catch it, and you’re likely to be out. Actually, nevermind, you probably have 2–3 years before that happens. But…
- Next time you “ain’t listen to nobody” you “ain’t gonna stay in the game.” Respect your coaches.
Early in the season you caught a pop-up underhanded during a game. Suddenly, you’d grab me almost daily and ask me to throw you fly balls. I’d always grab a slightly squishier tee-ball just in case, but you had no fear and eventually were catching most of them anyway. Sometimes you’d even get Colt to throw you pop-ups, or would just play catch with him. As much as I love playing catch with you, even better is seeing you throw and catch with your brother. It was a dream come true for me to watch.
All through the season, you talked about how badly you wanted to pitch. We’d go in the backyard to work on it, and while some of the throws were wild, you made some really nice pitches. For the all-star game, they allowed kids to pitch for the first time all season. Coach Jon selected you to start, and you threw lots of strikes, even registering a strikeout. And when hitting off kid pitch for the first time, you were one of the only kids not to strike out — getting a single to left in the first inning, and hitting hard balls to the shortstop in your other two at-bats.
Overall, your team (the Cougars) finished finished 7–3 and in 2nd place. That secured a bye for the first round of the playoffs, and eventually a 2nd round matchup with a team we’d beaten twice during the regular season. Alas, we couldn’t make it three straight as we lost in the semis to the eventual champion Blue Claws.
At the end of season party you won the award for “Best Baserunning / Best Hair”. I know you’re probably more gratified about the hair, but I couldn’t be prouder of the way you played this year. Overcoming your fear of the ball, such that you’d now jump in front of the coach pitcher to try and grab the ball being thrown back by the catcher. Working hard to improve your throwing, pitching, catching and hitting. And bringing the confidence to know that you can be a great player. That’s all I can ask for.
Me and You:
You’ve always been very snuggly and affectionate with Mom. With me? Not so much. But recently, that’s started to change. On the morning of March 24th (yes, I remember the exact day), you randomly hugged me. No explanation given, none needed. You’ve started hugging me when I tuck you in at night — not always, but maybe 2–3 times per week vs. never before.
And my favorite new thing? Holding hands on the walk to and from school. When you were younger I’d force you (through much protest) to hold my hand while crossing the street. And sometimes you’d grab my hand on a hill, hoping I’d help pull you up the incline. But now, you initiate it for no other reason than because you want to walk hand in hand with your dad. It means everything to me. More than the sports, more than the awards. Even more than your amazing covid hair.
Eight years have gone by so fast. The next eight will probably go even faster. Cherish this time in your life when comfort is as simple as holding my hand. I know I will. I love you son. Happy birthday.
