How a U.S. Navy Sailor Taught Us What It Means To Be Thankful
Sometimes I hear coaches and players complaining about the constraint of practicing indoors or on a small field. “There’s no room. The balls are bouncing all over. There is no grass. The grass is too long. I can’t scoop off the gym floor…” Well, boo-hoo. Suck it up buttercup and be thankful you have the opportunity to get in a gym or that you have any space to practice at all.
Swax Lax recently got a letter from DC3 Brandon Manus, who is currently deployed in the Pacific Ocean. He was thanking us for developing our Swax Lax training balls. Apparently, they seem to work better than regular lacrosse balls when you’re aboard a ship. DC3 Manus wrote us:
The DC3 before Brandon’s name is his rating (in the navy it’s called rank) Damage Controlman Third Class. What does Brandon do on board when he isn’t throwing around a Swax Lax ball? Damage Controlmen (DCs) do the work necessary for damage control, ship stability, firefighting, fire prevention, and chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) warfare defense. So, think of him as a fireman who works around explosives, diesel fuel, and ammunition.
Next time you are feeling sorry for yourself about having less than ideal practice space, just stop it, and try thinking about a solution. Be creative, adapt, and overcome. Be like Brandon. Here is a young man who is getting his lax on, aboard a destroyer in the Pacific Ocean.
We are the ones who should be thanking Brandon. Brandon might be thankful for his Swax Lax balls but we at Swax Lax are thankful for and proud of DC3 Brandon Manus and all our military personnel.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Photos from Brandon's mom, which she shared on Instagram.
