Why #9?

So if you know me at all, you know that I have a thing for the #9.   For those who don't know me, they may say that i'm obsessed, and since i'm a little bored sitting here in my hotel room, and haven't blogged in quite some time, i've felt the need to explain myself.

I could say that it all started on the day I was born...9-27-81.  9: September  2+7=9   8+1=9.  The time i was born was 9:27pm again do the math, and both of my parents were 27 at the time.  But it all came to fruition on a late August day in 1993.  I was 12 and had completed the Allegany Girls Varsity team pre-season.  We were all picking out uniforms, and since i was the youngest newby on the team i got last pick.  There was a perfectly packaged uniform in a gallon ziplock bag...I remember it like it was yesterday.  It was a uniform worn by a senior the previous year, and wouldn't you know what number it was...yup you guessed it: #9!

I believe that's where my story really starts for me.  Not at the point where the #9 chose me, but the point where I was given that uniform, given a chance to show the world who Jaime Snyder really was, well who the Jaime Snyder at 12 years old really was.  It started me on the journey of people knowing who I was, of my development as a leader, and ultimately soccer played a role in my salvation and beginning my relationship with Jesus.

Even as a unidentified opponent to other teams, they didn't know my name where I came from but they knew my number.  They knew to look out for #9, or be afraid, or pay special attention to #9...and that was me.  I wore #9 for soccer for Varsity, Olympic Development, a select team down in Jekyll Island, Varsity softball...

So really sports is where i have found myself, my strengths, my leadership, my college, my dedication, my friendships,  and ultimately pretty much every job i had ever gotten.  So the #9 just is related to all of it...and in the process is how people identify me, associate with me, and ultimately remember me.  

And for that last reason may be the main reason why I keep my "obsession" going.  I keep reminding them of me & the #9...so then when i'm not around, when I haven't talked or seen people for awhile, I like to think that when they see that 9 they think of me. 

So...past, present and future, the #9 is here to stay.  After awhile it just seems to get funny, after all i can't give it up now when i'm planning a kick butt party for 09-09-09!