Through the fervor of Marco Quezada my appreciation for soccer has evolved. I have gotten to know Marco quite well and through his eyes I see a game that makes me wish I had played.
I have always believed that a vitalized person vitalizes those around them. Such an individual is the tonic that enhances society. They become the benchmark, awakening us to the potential of the power of passion, and drive the great ambitions of life. Marco is such an individual; he gets you to take notice and is the catalyst that prompts others into the passions of life.
Do we all seek the meaning of life? Maybe what we seek is not the meaning of life but the experience of being alive. Marco has transcended the void and through his eyes I am able to see, but not understand, why soccer fuels the passions of those who believe it's a beautiful game.
During the dark times of the week when Penelope's is closed, I often find a quiet respite at Starbucks, to work on my book, read, or chat with friends. Occasionally, Marco will stop by for a cup of coffee and invariably our conversation will delve deeply into the Zen of soccer. His affability is most welcoming and with a patient demeanor Marco takes me closer to understanding that football is not football; soccer is football. I'm not sure I will ever get it, because from my perspective, football is football, and soccer is soccer!
I once saw the following unattributed quote on a pamphlet handed out at a professional soccer match: "Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. Football is much, much more important than that."
