The story of how Seahorse found Trouble
We could start this out with the old adage that you don’t know what you’re missing until you find it. Or that someone is looking down on you and continues to bless you (if you’re into that sort of thing). Instead, we’ll start by saying this: We love football. Playing it, watching it, learning about it and discussing it – Silvia will challenge your NFL knowledge any day! When we both got out of our respective cars on that fateful spring day in freezing cold San Francisco, that is what we knew: We love football.
Neither of us knew a single other person at the first ever Blondes vs. Brunettes SF (BvBSF) practice. We didn’t know the coaches. We certainly didn’t know what to expect. And, to be honest, neither of us were sure we’d be coming back the next week, and that was ok. It was certainly a shock to both of us self-identifying tomboys, that so many women just like us were out there to play football and support a great cause.
The surprises just kept coming. Mel expected to dislike Silvia because she (incorrectly) assumed this pretty blonde was a prima donna who cared more about makeup. Silvia didn’t really consider Mel, who seemed older and dull, as someone who could be a friend. Neither of us expected to make any friends beyond the field, anyway. After the group introductions and the realization that both of us lived in the same suburb, and were the only two in that area, carpools were arranged.
And so, we quickly became acquaintances, and expected little more than the weekly hour-long commute conversations. As the traffic-clogged miles grew each week (c’mon Bay Area drivers!!!) to various practices, fundraisers and events, so did our friendship. We shared so much in our lives: fathers taken by under-researched diseases (Silvia’s father from Epilepsy, Mel’s from Alzheimer’s); coming from extremely similar homes; a love of all things adventurous; the list goes on and on.
Soon, we were inseparable, and that spirit of BvB teamwork extended off the field. Silvia, now known as “˜Seahorse’ for her infectious laugh (it’s a long story) and Mel, now answering to “˜Trouble’ for her habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, were quick but true friends. We helped each other through the ending of relationships, periods of unemployment, the starting of new jobs (and new relationships) and everything in between. We planned each other’s birthdays, remembered each other’s father’s passing together and have laughed, cried, and yelled together – and maybe even at each other from time to time!
Since the second season has started, we have also become roommates. While we may argue over doing the dishes, or taking out the trash, we know what brought us together: Kicking brunette butt”¦no no, I’m teasing!
We owe our entire friendship and the fact that we ever even met to our Dads. They taught us football and raised us to be the strong women we are now. Our love for them encourages the charity work we do today. We even acknowledge it every day in our home, with a wall of some art and memories of our dads. Our Dads are looking down on us, bringing two crazy tomboys together in a special way. On the field and off.
– Mel and Siliva, Team Blondes
Helpful information related to this story:
Learn more about the Alzheimer’s Association Blondes vs. Brunettes
Donate to Silvia
Donate to Mel
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