Life comes at you fast. That’s what the cool, glib kids say, right?
They may be on to something.
Last weekend I was at the inaugural home match of San Diego Loyal SC, the county’s Division 2 professional soccer team.
The new team is the closest thing this region has to a top tier soccer team so excitement was high among futbol fans starving for something to cheer for, sports homers who will love and support anything that has San Diego in the logo and families who wanted to enjoy a relatively inexpensive night out (compared to what Chargers tickets and food and beer used to cost, the Loyal game was grand theft).
Looking out over USD’s Toereo Stadium after the team had finished playing to a 1-1 draw against Las Vegas, I commented on social media that the evening’s escapism provided respite from the worries and concerns of recent troubles.
“Wondered if coronoavirus concern would keep people away. It didn’t,” I wrote. “There was an announced attendance of 6,100-plus. Lots of people hugging when they ran into friends in the stands or high-fived when they saw their team score. Tonight the San Diego Loyal provided a welcome distraction. It was a win in spite of the draw.”
Skip ahead to Wednesday when the team is scheduled to play in Tacoma, Washington, and word comes down that COVID-19 (the coronavirus) was considered a pandemic. Out of an abundance of caution the team decides to prohibit fans from attending the game, hoping to prevent spreading the virus.
And Thursday morning the USL, the league in which the Loyal play, announced their season has been suspended for 30 days.
Less than a week after they started, the Loyal, its fans and an entire league were put on ice.
The Loyal had planned on making their second home game of the season a promotion of Chula Vista, with Chula Vista night. Now that has been pushed back to July.
Consider, too, that on Tuesday Southwestern College issued a statement saying they will transition their campus classes to online instruction, virtually eliminating the need for students and faculty to interact personally and limiting the possible spread of the virus.
Life comes at you fast. Relish the moments that bring you pleasure. Who knows when they will come again?
