I was twelve before I learned to do a cartwheel.
And even then, it was a wobbly, uncoordinated twist of unladylike effort.
On lucky days, I landed on my feet. On not-so-lucky days, my hip bones or back side would take the brunt of twirling legs gone awry.
And even after an entire summer of diligent practice, there were days when I'd get a mouth full of grass or a skinned elbow.
But it didn't matter.
I wanted to be a cheerleader.
Teeth full of asphalt or playground sand in my hair would not deter me from my dream.
Apparently the judges overlooked the not-so-perfect pirouettes and the awkward- (almost embarrassing) toe jumps and torturous-looking splits that I presented on Try Outs Day.
Because my eighth grade year- and I became a cheerleader!
That was the epitome of happiness...
...Cheering on the sidelines in my red jumper and white sweater- the big, woven letter"S" sewn tight against my chest like a gold medal...
...Screaming words like "Go! Fight! Win!" till my throat was strained to a whispery croak...
...Going home to bed after beating the Hornets or the Terriers...the smell of popcorn in my hair...the remnants of pompoms on on floor...the memories of half-time buzzers and the cheer of the crowd...
...bus rides...locker rooms...the slap of tennis shoes on the gym floor...
...and once every so often- the thrill of a perfect cartwheel.
I was a cheerleader for one school year. A brief nine months that embedded itself in my memory like a soft cocoon. Pieces of days that shine like treasures- even after all these years.
In high school I envied those girls who stood straight and tall like robots and clapped in unison for the basketball heroes. They were pretty. And popular. And performed perfect toe touches.
...And their hair flipped like golden honey as they cartwheeled across the floor and landed like an agile cat on the free throw line...
While those girls pranced around at pep club assemblies in their pleated skirts and pony tails, I went off to the basement journalism room and helped lay out the school paper.
For years I regretted never having been anything better than a girl with dreams and a head full of poetry and flowery words. I regretted never pushing myself- never trying new things- never traveling outside my comfort zone to a place of ...greatness.
It took years for me to realize that those cheerleaders are just like me now.
They struggle with their weight and their relationships and their identity.
They have money problems and health issues... and they color their gray.
I am still a cheerleader.
I'm on this crazy-imaginary sideline watching my family...
...Cheering them on and jumping for joy- and demanding that they secure their victory in this place called life.
Sometimes I just sit back and watch...and sometimes I am so overtaken with pride and love- that I do perfect cartwheels in my head ...
and my heart leaps with gladness.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Is Ken Cool?
I just heard that Ken turns 50 this month...
Which seems practically impossible because he was a mature young hunk of a plastic man when I played with him at age nine. If he was 19 or 20 back then ...and I'm going to be....
Oh, well...let's just say the math doesn't add up!
In my opinion, Ken is a metrosexual- which according to the dictionary is:
He seems to cave from peer pressure- always longing to have the latest styles and fashions. Even with his hair....
Ken originally had felt hair, then got a plastic molded doo, and finally got some natural looking hair plugs that have been coiffed into everything from a mullet to a "Bieber "bob.
I suppose the guy has issues. What man would let his girlfriend buy a pink Corvette, a dream home, and allow her to prance around in public- dressed in only a bathing suit and heels?
According to Barbie's Facebook, however, she and Ken did get back together on Valentine's Day this year and her status now says she's "in a relationship".
Here's her Facebook profile information to prove the rumors are true!
(Seriously- just "friend" Barbie and you can read all about it.)
I never really thought Ken was cool, even at age nine when he lived under my bed and took baths with me. He just never seemed very dependable or successful.
And here's a lineup of all the jobs he has had. Fifty years old- and still doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up:
Actor '63-'65 '74 '88 '99
Cowboy '80 '82 '89 '93
Impersonator '94 '95 '99
Roller Skater '80 '02
Alternative Lifestyle '92
Ice Skater '89 '97 '02
Airforce '93
Dancer '80 '88 '89 '91 '92
Lifeguard '94
Sailor '63-'65 '84 '92
Army '92 D
Football Player '63-'65
Olympic Gold Medalist '74 '97
Snow Skier '63-'65 '73 '90
Best Man '90
Fraternity Member '63-'65
Photographer '00 '01
Student '99
Birthday Boy '86 '01
Gymnast '83
Prince '89 '94 '97 '99 '00 '01
Tennis Player '63-'65 '74 '85
Body Builder '81
Hair Stylist '91 '92 '99
Pilot '89
Tourist '78 '83 '87 '88 '90 '93 '98 '99 '01 '02
Brother '96 '99 J
Jogger/Runner '79 '80
Pizza Delivery '88
Campus Hero '63-'65
King '99
Roller Blader '91 '94
I mean, really? Do little girls even play with fashion dolls anymore?
Especially some gender-challenged loser like Ken whose middle aged crisis has reeked considerable and irreversible damage to his reputation.
My vote: Not cool.
Which seems practically impossible because he was a mature young hunk of a plastic man when I played with him at age nine. If he was 19 or 20 back then ...and I'm going to be....
Oh, well...let's just say the math doesn't add up!
In my opinion, Ken is a metrosexual- which according to the dictionary is:
metrosexual (ˌmɛtrəʊˈsɛksjʊəl)
| |||||
| I really don't think he is much of a ladies man, to tell you the truth. It almost makes me question his masculinity. He and Barbie dated for years and years and he never even bought her an engagement ring! Poor Barbie- she keeps buying those wedding dresses, but Ken still doesn't get the hint! No wonder they broke up! | |||||
He seems to cave from peer pressure- always longing to have the latest styles and fashions. Even with his hair....
Ken originally had felt hair, then got a plastic molded doo, and finally got some natural looking hair plugs that have been coiffed into everything from a mullet to a "Bieber "bob.
I suppose the guy has issues. What man would let his girlfriend buy a pink Corvette, a dream home, and allow her to prance around in public- dressed in only a bathing suit and heels?
According to Barbie's Facebook, however, she and Ken did get back together on Valentine's Day this year and her status now says she's "in a relationship".
Here's her Facebook profile information to prove the rumors are true!
Barbie's Basic Information
| Founded | 1959 |
|---|---|
| Birthday | March 9, 1959 |
| About | In a Relationship |
| Biography | I’m a modern doll with a classic sensibility. I’ve had over 125 careers and truly believe that if you can dream it, you can be it. I’ve traveled to the moon and multiple Fashion Weeks, been featured on the silver screen and the Twitter homepage, experienced both a highly publicized break-up AND reunion. Inside the Dream House, things are about the same – besides all the new gadgets I’ve picked up as a Computer Engineer. You’ll find pink heels lined up in neat rows and framed pictures of all my... (read more) |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female |
| Personal Information | I love my a-mazing family, my sweet boyfriend Ken, and all of you fab dolls. |
| Personal Interests | Glamping (glam-camping), Dining out, Volunteering, Aerobics, Performing arts, Museums and Concerts… and fashion, of course! |
I never really thought Ken was cool, even at age nine when he lived under my bed and took baths with me. He just never seemed very dependable or successful.
And here's a lineup of all the jobs he has had. Fifty years old- and still doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up:
Actor '63-'65 '74 '88 '99 Cowboy '80 '82 '89 '93
Impersonator '94 '95 '99
Roller Skater '80 '02
Alternative Lifestyle '92
Ice Skater '89 '97 '02
Airforce '93
Dancer '80 '88 '89 '91 '92
Lifeguard '94
Sailor '63-'65 '84 '92
Army '92 D
Football Player '63-'65
Olympic Gold Medalist '74 '97
Snow Skier '63-'65 '73 '90
Best Man '90
Fraternity Member '63-'65
Photographer '00 '01
Student '99
Birthday Boy '86 '01
Gymnast '83
Prince '89 '94 '97 '99 '00 '01
Tennis Player '63-'65 '74 '85
Body Builder '81
Hair Stylist '91 '92 '99
Pilot '89
Tourist '78 '83 '87 '88 '90 '93 '98 '99 '01 '02
Brother '96 '99 J
Jogger/Runner '79 '80
Pizza Delivery '88
Campus Hero '63-'65
King '99
Roller Blader '91 '94
I mean, really? Do little girls even play with fashion dolls anymore?
Especially some gender-challenged loser like Ken whose middle aged crisis has reeked considerable and irreversible damage to his reputation.
My vote: Not cool.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Thankful Thursdays
Thursday.
It's one of those weekdays that doesn't get much attention.
We hate Mondays, settle into the week on Tuesday, announce Hump Day, and Thank God it's Friday. But, poor ol' Thursday is hidden in the quintuplet of days and it's virtually starving for nourishment and attention.
So, I suggest that we embrace this neglected day.
I hereby announce the beginning of Thankful Thursday.
Each Thursday I'm going to list at least five things that have happened in the past week that I'm thankful for. I may have to dig to get my five, but sometimes blessings are hidden right under our noses and we just take them for granted....
1. My Bed
I just put clean flannel sheets on my bed. They are soft, warm, and smell like lilac fabric softener. Even though my husband and dog are cover hogs, I appreciate the fact that I'm not camping out under a bridge or spending cold nights in a cardboard box. I can't wait to curl up tonight under the blankets, watch an old movie, and snuggle.
2. American Idol
If it wasn't for this show, I'd be eating bon-bons and reading three-year-old magazines to keep from going bonkers. The evening hours between 5 and 9 are the worst for me. I snack out of boredom and can't handle CNN or war movies. Through American Idol, I'm enjoying good music, future stars, and a bit of excitement.
3. Tax Return
Even though I haven't gotten my return yet, it's all been mailed off and will arrive shortly. There's nothing that says happy like a bank account with money it it.
4. Sisters
I've talked to all my sisters this week and we've got some plans brewing for a get together. We all need something to look forward to when the weather gets dreary- and spending time with my sisters always brightens my day. Flea markets, yard sales, and lunch are on the menu for later this month.
5. Naps
Even though there were things that needed to be done yesterday, none were so important that I had to meet a deadline. I curled up on the couch with a pillow, a blanket, and HDTV -and took a nap for an hour and a half. I felt refreshed and relaxed afterward and I didn't fall asleep later watching Gunsmoke.
Best of all, this week I've notice that the grass is getting green. My tulips and daffodils are pushing through the earth, and the air smells like new days. My husband said he heard the frogs chirping in the creek yesterday and the pond is once again bright with a blue-sky reflection.
We all have so much to be thankful for...
And now we can add Thursdays to that list!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Goodwill Wednesday: Just stuff
It's Goodwill Wednesday again, and I'm sorry to say that my internet isn't cooperating today. As I write this, my photos are refusing to upload, so I guess you will all have to do what I do every time I enter the local Goodwill- Use your imagination!
I've not been a very good little house keeper this week. I know my closets are overflowing with clothes and bins of unknown content, but I've just not been able to get motivated. I blame it on the cold weather, but I really think it's the fact that I know I'll just end up rearranging my junk- and not ridding myself of what needs to go right out the door and never seen again!
My biggest organizing problem is clothing and paper. How long do I really need to save an electric bill? Or a Christmas card? Or the expensive pair of jeans I wore twenty pounds ago?
I know I'm going to have to engage some tough love here. Soon.
So- I decided that I would play around with my art stuff yesterday. I got some while canvas for Christmas that was just burning a hole in my pocket (so to speak). And I tried to tell myself that experimentation was the funnest part of the artistic process. Plus, I could always paint the canvas white again if I didn't like the outcome.
A Goodwill find was actually involved. A paperback book of women's love poetry. A 50 cent purchase to tuck away in my purse while waiting for my oil change or the doctor to arrive. But, sorry to say- it was absolutely horrible. Don't be a hater- but I tore it up for my project. Which doesn't amount to a hill of beans if you can't see a picture of what I did with it. (I hate you internet!!) I'll have to show you some other time, and even though I'm not crazy about how the project turned out, I had fun experimenting.
Oh- great!
A picture finally decides to load, but it's not one I needed to show you. It is, however, a photo of a little goodie my daughter gave me out of her auction box stash. I love it. The colors are so pretty...
Speaking of found treasures, I stumbled upon a website that I absolutely LOVE!
http://www.bennettrobotworks.com/
I think my next project will be making robots!!! Sculptures, really- that's all they are. But they're so cute! And I'll be able to recycle all the junky stuff that my husband has in the barn! It's a win/win situation!
(Funny that my internet will copy a URL address photo, but not one from my own personal file! arghhh!!!)
Now I've got something else to look for at Goodwill! Can't wait!
Isn't life fun?
I've not been a very good little house keeper this week. I know my closets are overflowing with clothes and bins of unknown content, but I've just not been able to get motivated. I blame it on the cold weather, but I really think it's the fact that I know I'll just end up rearranging my junk- and not ridding myself of what needs to go right out the door and never seen again!
My biggest organizing problem is clothing and paper. How long do I really need to save an electric bill? Or a Christmas card? Or the expensive pair of jeans I wore twenty pounds ago?
I know I'm going to have to engage some tough love here. Soon.
So- I decided that I would play around with my art stuff yesterday. I got some while canvas for Christmas that was just burning a hole in my pocket (so to speak). And I tried to tell myself that experimentation was the funnest part of the artistic process. Plus, I could always paint the canvas white again if I didn't like the outcome.
A Goodwill find was actually involved. A paperback book of women's love poetry. A 50 cent purchase to tuck away in my purse while waiting for my oil change or the doctor to arrive. But, sorry to say- it was absolutely horrible. Don't be a hater- but I tore it up for my project. Which doesn't amount to a hill of beans if you can't see a picture of what I did with it. (I hate you internet!!) I'll have to show you some other time, and even though I'm not crazy about how the project turned out, I had fun experimenting.
Oh- great!
A picture finally decides to load, but it's not one I needed to show you. It is, however, a photo of a little goodie my daughter gave me out of her auction box stash. I love it. The colors are so pretty...
Speaking of found treasures, I stumbled upon a website that I absolutely LOVE!
http://www.bennettrobotworks.com/
I think my next project will be making robots!!! Sculptures, really- that's all they are. But they're so cute! And I'll be able to recycle all the junky stuff that my husband has in the barn! It's a win/win situation!
Isn't life fun?
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