Porter and the Parking Meter

Alright, today i'm feeling slightly reminiscent and i'm thinkin it calls for some story time.

Setting: Hawaii, specifically a relatively main street off of Waikiki

 

Characters: my club team, random geriactric tourist, a parking meter

Ok so as many of you may know this summer I had a soccer tournament in Hawaii.  Just as some background, know that my club team takes soccer real serious and during the tournament even though we were in Hawaii we pretty much we in our hotel the entire time.  So we had been like that for four days, we'd just played our third game that afternoon and so we had a one day break before the quarterfinals.  So when we get back to our hotel from the game our coach is like "ok we'll have our meeting in 45 minutes".  Automatically a bunch of girls realize that we could totally go down to the beach real quick.  Lets say it would be an understatement to say we were excited. (remember we'd been in Hawaii for 4 days without even really touching the sand)  So we throw on our bathing suits and head to the beach that was only like 2 blocks away.  We had a great time, I even played frisbee in the ocean - ya that was awesome.  There we are having a grand ol time when o crap we realize we are supposed to be at our hotel in 3 minutes for our meeting.  Now if you knew my coach you would know that being late just isn't even an option.  So we all literally come running out of the ocean pick up our shoes and start to book it for the hotel.

We were kind of freaking out, but laughing at the situation at the same time.  People stared at us like we were crazy.  I mean how often do you see a big group of 17-18 year old girls sprinting down the street, barefoot - carrying their shoes, soaking wet and in their swimsuits? Not very often.  One random older guy asked as we dashed by "aren't you on vacation?!" I promptly yelled out "Nope!"

There we were running down the sidewalk.  Now this sidewalk had like the main part of the sidewalk, then a tree every little bit and then the curb.  So I'm in the middle "main" part, but a few girls are on the other side of the row of trees next to the curb.  Keep in mind that we are all collegiate athletes and we are literally sprinting. This girl Porter was running right behind Kaelia, all the sudden Kaelia twists to the side yelling "pole!!".  But it was already to late.  Porter ran full speed, square on into a parking meter.  I'll have you know I looked back right as it happened.  Yup saw it all go down, heard her hit it, saw her face, and listened to the "oohh!"

I'm not gonna lie I don't know when I have ever laughed so hysterically hard in my entire life.  She hit that SO hard.  It was insane.  Through all of our meeting (which we were on time for, minus Porter and one girl who stayed back with her) I could not stop laughing about it.  I would look at Porter, and couldn't control myself!

I should have felt bad, Porter was actually sore for a day or two.  And sadly, I was still chuckling about it that whole time.

Really though she hit is so hard.

In a swimsuit

Ouch.

This is Porter with one of her new best friends :)

Please imagine how much that thing would hurt.

Seriously wow.

Needless to say this is how pathetic I am.  Every time I see a parking meter I can't help but crack a smile.  If not laugh hysterically.

Alright so I feel a little bad posting in Porters humiliation - so to make up for it, know this:

She's one of the greatest soccer players I have ever known.  Right now as a freshman she plays every minute of every game for the University of Utah.  And even more importantly she is one of the most genuine, down to earth, fun to be with people I know.  A great teammate, a great friend, a great person.

But oh that parking meter.