Why I play hockey. Or least least a few of the reasons why it's important to me. I do wonder, why does hockey get a different reaction than soccer or basketball? Those folks get bounced around just as much, and without any padding! I have pads for almost everything (though I do draw the line at the pelvic protector -- fer christ's sake, my parts are internal!), the only difference is that I have those pads and other sports don't!.

Last fall, I took our neighbor's kid to a soccer practice. This eenager who was watching a flock of her siblings came up and asked me where my babies were and if there was a girl playing soccer, then again where were my babies. It had never occurred to her that you could have a life without babies and a life that included sports. How fucking sad is that?