Izu's World

Do you like sports? Have you ever thought about why you like a specific sport? I watching the World cup right now – Brazil x Portugal are playing, and I couldn’t help but think about my grandpa. I’ve mentioned before that my grandpa was like a father to me – the father I never really got. He was the one who helped me fix my bike, scolded me when I did crazy things, helped me with my math assignments (he actually did them for me all the way to middle school), and he was the one who got me into football (soccer).

You see, my grandpa had been a right wing back at his twenties, though he had to quit as he started work, got married and so on. But his passion for the game never disappeared and the fire transferred to me. I can remember watching all the World and the European Cups with him, sitting at both ends of the couch, watching the TV and commenting the game. I knew more about football than any other kid my age back then. Unfortunately, I never had much stamina when it came to running around and tackle other kids, so I always ended up being the goalie – and I loved it if I have to be honest. I was quite good, too. I even played as the goal keeper of my high-school’s team. And now, even if I haven’t played for a few years I still get the urge just to go out and kick the ball around…

But this post is not about my passion for the game. It’s about the bittersweet memory of my grandpa. He passed away on 15th August 2006 – on the very same day I got the news that I was accepted in the university of my dreams. But I’m not going to be mourning him right now… I just miss him… I have no one to talk about the World Cup – my brother is not a fan, my grandma and mother… well they understand nothing about the game, and I don’t have a boyfriend or any close friends who are fans, so… I’m just watching the games and smile sadly from time to time, imagining how my grandpa would have reacted to the fouls the players make or the unfair referees…

I just miss him… And I will always remember him whenever I hear or see anything connected to the football world. :)