It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that it’s been six years since losing you. When I think about something that was so deeply a part of who you were, I always come back to soccer—especially Liverpool. I can still picture you waking up early, no matter how tired you were, just to watch a match. It wasn’t just a game to you—it was something you truly loved.

Some of my favorite memories are of you sitting there with your bagel, and once Elsie came along, she made that time her own too. She’d sit on your lap, sneaking bites—most of the time taking more than her fair share—and you never minded. You just held her close and watched the game together. Those quiet, simple moments meant everything.

And now, every time Elsie steps onto the field, she’s carrying a piece of you with her. The love you had for the game lives on in her—in the way she plays, the joy she feels, and the heart she puts into every moment. And she honors you in such a special way, wearing the number 24—your birthday—close to her every time she plays.

It’s her way of keeping you with her, of making sure that you’re part of every game and every step she takes on that field. She may not fully remember those mornings, but they are a part of her, woven into who she is. In so many ways, she’s honoring you every single time she plays.