Sports with the Sisters

Every other week Eagle Eye is invited to play sports with the Sisters. When it’s warm enough, we play basketball on the court next to the convent. So far it’s been quite an experience. The sisters are exceptionally fast and agile for Contemplative nuns.

When it’s an even match between Eaglets and sisters, the teams are split Sisters vs. Eaglets. We never stand a chance. When you’re up against Sr. Eme “The Bullet” Domini, Sr. Theresa Marine Core, Sr. Perpetual Motion and “The Guardian,” there really is no hope. It’s better when they disperse the Eaglets among the teams.

The French sisters are my favorite to play with, as they don’t quite have a concept of the rules yet. Their moves consist of double dribbling, travelling and shooting the ball either all the way over the hoop or into the rim. They’re getting better though.

For those who aren’t up on basketball terminology, there are points in the game where the possession of the basketball is contested. When two players from opposite teams both have a firm grip on the basketball for 5 seconds or more someone calls “Jump Ball.” In a normal game with referees, whistles and coaches Jump Balls are solved by first giving the ball to whoever didn’t have possession to begin the game, after that it rotates which team takes possession. (I apologize for the poor explanation.) When you play with the sisters it’s much less complicated. It starts out with Sr. Eme “The Bullet” Domini insisting that we play by the rules of the game. Then “The Guardian” comes over and says, “It’s more fun when you arm wrestle for it.”

On one such occasion, “The Guardian” won and it was decided that Sr. Marthe Rachel and I would arm wrestle for possession. Sr. Marthe Rachel, is one of the girls I’ve known since I was 16. Sr. Marthe Rachel has been sweeping and chopping vegetables with the sisters for 2 years now, and let me tell you, she has very well-toned forearms. Long-story short, I was roundly beaten by Sr. Marthe Rachel and she won the possession of the basketball.

There are so many other stories about sports with the sisters I could tell, but for the sake of length I’ll cut it off there. Needless to say, I count down the days until the next time we get to play with the Sisters.