Reflection (Artemi Panarin)

Appreciate

Lesson 7: In order to be great you don't have to be the strongest, you don't have to be the fastest, but you have to try your hardest.

-Taylor's POV-

Since I was still going to be on crutches for a while I was confided into my office for a little when I was at work. The first few weeks were okay. I am still getting used to people giving me stuff and not the other way around, I don't like it but don't have much of a choice. Every day I'm in the office a different player brings me something to cheer me up.

Whether it's a gag gift or flowers I had a feeling this was all Artemi but I never brought it up. I get out of the immobilizer tomorrow and will still have the crutches for a little but I'll finally be able to walk a little so that's progress. Until I'm off crutches I'm stuck in my office doing paper work. Tonight we play the Oliers, thankfully for Artemi. He has 3 goals and 3 assists in two games against them so far. Pats point streak ended at 26 last game so he was looking to start a new one.

The game has started and I was brainstorming random acts of kindness. I already knew that on Christmas I was going to buy a bunch of things, wrap them, then walk around Chicago and hand them out but that wasn't for a while. I wanted to do something in the mean time. I look up from my notebook to see it was 3-0 in the third. Crow was brilliant, but honestly I always thought he was underrated for sure. Maybe that's what I could do, something for the underrated players to let them know they're appreciated and that we would be nothing without them.

I was abruptly pulled out of my thoughts by loud cheering. Artemi had scored and that made me happy. He's been great so far this year and not even the haters can deny he's a talent.

I haven't had a no-contact day in forever because I couldn't be by myself. Art basically lived at my apartment at this point. I could use one though. My thoughts are starting to become jumbled and a mess and I can't think fraught. Luckily I spend a lot of time by myself in my office now that I don't have another choice. Since we didn't have any practice or a game tomorrow I wanted to get the presents tomorrow so I would have time to wrap them. After my doctors appointment of course.

I finally got my brace off, only to get a new one, but this one moves and I can actually see my leg now. The new brace had two straps on my thigh and two straps in my calf and allowed my leg to move if it wasn't locked. It made me sad to see the large scar running from above my knee to below it but it was progress. Artemi didn't like the idea of me walking around the store but insisted I had to to this. We picked up dolls, little toy cars, nail polish, drawing pads and pencils, MP3 players, candy, headphones, large sweaters, and other little things to give out and we checked out.

"Who would you say is under appreciated on the team" I ask Artemi randomly as we drive back to my apartment. Snow was lightly falling and I had Christmas music playing in the car.

"A bunch of guys. There's so many super stars on the team, but they would be nowhere without them" he claims pulling into the parking garage.

He somehow carried all the bags into the apartment in one trip and I couldn't help but laugh when he and the bags fell onto the couch. "You think that's funny missy" he yells.

"No. Of course not" I shake my head.

"I thought so" he says trying to find the bag with wrapping paper.

Christmas was in one week and I still need to get stuff for the guys. "So what would you say if I said I was thinking about giving a little extra Christmas spirit to the guys who don't get as much face time as you and some of the other guys" I ask getting comfortable on the floor surrounded by many things.

"I would say I would love that" he says sitting across from me and picking a random bag and starting to wrap things.

Three hours and 60 gifts later we finish wrapping and have a list of guys who will be extra gifted. Scotty, Crow, Turbo, Hammer, Anisimov, Rozy, and TVR were all getting a sticker for their helmet that said "Quiet But Mighty", new stick tape, a drawing from yours truly that says "give credit where credit is due" with some personal stuff, and personalized trophies for what they do best.

The last game before everyone left for Christmas was brutal. They lost to the Stars 4-0 and no one was happy. We were on the plane heading back and I had the boys' gifts. I got everyone deodorizer for their practice stuff because I always complained how they smelled like ass but they also got homemade snicker doodles and a new Blackhawks shirt. After the general gifts were passed out the special gifts were handed out. In the bag was a note that read,

"Dear guys,
You are great. Never forget that. What you do for this team does not go unnoticed. You might not skate the fastest, check the hardest, but you're trying you're hardest and that's all that matters. Keep pushing and you will get what's coming.
Love, Taylor and Artemi"

The boys loved their gifts and we all left the plane a lot brighter than when we got on. Christmas was in three days after all.