I drove to Billings for the Class A boys soccer final between Whitefish and Billings Central two weeks ago. Although I woke to fresh snow at home, I sallied forth and within a few miles, the roads were dry. 

Flathead Lake looked somber, sporting dreary greys and blues along with bits of fog. It seemed like it dressed up as Loch Ness for Halloween and hadn’t taken off its costume. If not for the cheery golden larches, I’d have thought I took a wrong turn at Glasgow. 

My dogs and I stayed in a hotel just half a mile from the soccer field and when checking out Saturday morning, I examined my receipt to find the pet fee was left off the bill. Just steps from my truck, I turned around, re-entered the hotel and spoke with the desk attendant. 

“I hate to say this, but I have dogs and I believe I was supposed to pay a $50 pet fee,” I told her. “I wouldn’t have felt right leaving without telling you.” 

In fact, I had considered doing just that. Hilton has lots of money, I rationalized. Then, I thought about karma and how I had an eight-hour drive the next day and could not afford to have the universe upset with me. I also had to sleep with myself. 

Maggie, the woman at the hotel desk, looked at my receipt and said, “It’s not on here. Let’s just forget about it.” 

She said whoever made the reservation must have left off the charge. I explained that I, myself, made the reservation and marked the box that said I had dogs. She insisted, with a smile, I needn’t pay.  

Fifty dollars is a sizeable sum to me and I happily told my dogs all about our good fortune when I joined them in the truck and headed to the field. 

The game was physical but not chippy and both teams gave all they had. They played with heart and intensity.  

As is the norm in soccer, the beautiful game, players often helped one another up from the pitch after a coming together and exchanged nods of apology and of understanding. 

The bleachers were packed with fans in a ratio of about 4 to 1 in favor of the hometown team. Lamentably, a handful of Rams’ supporters displayed poor sportsmanship by deriding the officials and spouting vitriol.  

It was a tough overtime loss for the Bulldogs, but it was a reminder that sport affords us the chance to feel the thrill of victory and other times, the agony of defeat. After the game, the Bulldogs and family members shed tears and shared hugs. 

Our ability to feel, express and process powerful emotions in healthy ways is key to living full, rich lives.