Almost every year around the 3rd week in December, a ragtag group of soccer players in Washington D.C. raise shot glasses to toast the birthday of our venerable right wing, Arnost Lustig. Of course the occasion is an excuse to celebrate many things in addition to Arnost's longevity -- soccer, health, camaraderie, love, good liquor (even if its not), good weather (even if its not) and, most importantly, just to be alive. Arnost knows that we are using his birthday as an excuse. He likes being used.

I can remember only two times that Arnost missed a pass from his midfielder. Once his eyes were intently turned upward to watch a brilliant red cardinal perched 60 feet up on a branch of one of the willow oaks that surrounded our field. The other time, a passage he was struggling with in a current writing project had, at that moment, just become clear in his mind. Arnost has said that he uses our Sunday games as a catalyst for his writing. We like being used.

Background: The toast has been taking place for more than a decade. The pickup game was started in 1982 by a core group of Justice Department attorneys. We've been kicked off at least 8 different playing fields. We have collectively required over 12 trips to the emergency room (none yet following the toast).