Getting In Shape

photo from commons.wikimedia.org

I dusted off my rollerskates the other day and went for a little spin. I am embarrassed to say that it was roughly 3 miles round-trip and I could barely make it back home. I thought to myself (as I attempted to keep up with my husband - who was running well ahead of me)... I need to eat better. I need to exercise more. I am out of shape.

And then I thought about that phrase: Out Of Shape. What the heck does that mean, anyway? Out of what shape? What shape am I supposed to be, and who decides? Am I a rectangle? Square? Circle? I started looking at others that I passed as I rolled on (wheezing) by. What shape were they in? Triangle? Octagon? None of these shapes seemed to fit.

And then - it came to me... the kind shape I wanted to be in. A heart! This would this require a different kind of change. Not a change in what I ate, but a change in who I was. I could be more kind towards others. Less judgmental. I could look for opportunities to do nice things for my neighbors, friends and family - even perfect strangers! I could look at others and try to see their potential and worth... no matter what their shape. Maybe then I could be a heart.

Or a star! I always wanted to be a star. Someone that others could look up to. Not afraid to stand out; a bright, shining beacon of light in a sea of darkness. A luminous guide for those who need help finding their way. I would love to be in star shape.

Well-rounded like a circle?

Sharp-looking like a triangle?

I decided I wasn't 'out of shape' after all. I think I could make the best of whatever shape I was labeled as or determined to be.

I am in shape.

More Fun Than Should Be Allowed

Because I hold certification as an ASL Interpreter in my great state I am required to attend 60 hours worth of workshops every 3 years.

The workshops I attend are educational as well as enjoyable for the most part because I choose to make them so. However, the workshop I attended this weekend blows all of the others out of the water.

First of all, it was FREE. This, in itself, is a rare occurrence. Add to that the fact that my little brother was going to attend with me and you've got the recipe for a GREAT time. Add Amy, a friend I had not seen in over 5 years, and I was in.

It gets even better. This was a two-day workshop and overnight accommodations were provided in the dorms adjacent to the school. A workshop/slumber party? Awesome.

I packed a few items that would guarantee a good time:

1. Accordion
2. Roller skates
3. Sock puppets
4. Night-vision goggles

Because you never know when these things will come in handy.

When the Friday evening portion of the workshop was finished we headed to the dorms to plan our night. It was decided that the empty, mostly carpeted halls of the school would make for some great skating.

As I laced up my skates I was excitedly thinking, How many people can say they have roller skated through the halls of a school after hours? And then , disappointed, realized that there were maybe a few.

So then I thought, How many people can say they have roller skated through the halls of a school wearing night-vision goggles, after hours, while playing the accordion?

And I can now happily add to that thought: Me.

I'm thinking about calling The Guinness World Records people.
We made some new interpreter friends in the dorms who were happy to come watch as I made workshop history.

After a while I wondered how everyone could possibly be having as much fun as myself. I mean, sure, it's fun to watch people's dreams come true, but only to a point.

Luck was on our side. Down a side hall we found a cache of enormous tricycles and other ride-on equipment that just screamed: Ride us! Ride us! Take us for a spin! So we did.

Chip and Amy tearing it up!

We had races. We had chases. We had a blast.

We quickly discovered the location of the school's gymnasium as well. I was in roller skating heaven! My own rink. Does it get any better?
At one point a piano was uncovered and played by the talented Jame. This made for some great interpretive dances.

Once we had tired out we sat on the stage and had an impromptu talent show with the help of the school's sound equipment.

Chip has not lost the talent of drumming out the rhythms of a beat-box with his mouth. And when it comes to break dancing? He's still got the moves down. (Word.)

We found some props on the stage which led to even more entertainment.

A giant teeter-totter.

A realistic coffin. (It was fun to talk about the poses we could get in there but when it came down to it, no one dared. Too creepy.)

My favorite prop? The perfect stage for a puppet show.

The puppets, performing a scene from Phantom of the Opera.

Eventually we traveled back to the commons area of the dorms to chat, laugh, munch on some junk food, debate avuncular smiles and listen to the flatulent sounds of Chip's iFart. (Incidentally, iFart is HILARIOUS at 2 in the morning!)

One by one our friends headed off to catch a few hours of sleep before we'd be back in the classroom learning about cohesion in our interpreting message. Chip, Amy and I (the true diehards!) finally turned the lights out at 4 a.m.

At some point in this adventure we realized that the school has security cameras throughout the campus. I'll be honest... we hold on to the secret hope that we will find ourselves on YouTube.

But if not, we at least hope that security enjoyed our nocturnal hi jinks as much as we did.

Although I doubt that is possible.

Reunited - And It Feels So Good!

I finally become well-acquainted with my skates.

Allen and I headed for the River Trail yesterday. He ran, I skated.

I must admit, I was a bit apprehensive at first. What if I could no longer balance myself like I used to? What if I fell and hit my head? What if the magic was no longer there?

My fears were unfounded.

I can't believe I waited so long to own rollerskates again!

It was like flying.

The words of a song I used to enjoy repeated in my mind... "Believe it or not, I'm walking on air! I never thought I could feel so free-eee-eeeeee!"

I can't wait to get out there again.

Rollerskating Dream

So maybe I'm a little too excited about getting my new skates. They haven't arrived yet, but last night I had a very vivid, crazy dream...

My skates had arrived! I opened the box in eager anticipation and discovered they were actually plastic Barbie skates. This seemed completely normal and I was undeterred. I strapped them on (a perfect fit!) and went outside to give them a whirl. I started to skate and realized they were actually an AMAZING pair of skates - I could move quickly on them and they made me feel so alive! After a while I realized I was not skating in my neighborhood, but through downtown Clinton, Iowa, where I grew up. I began to have a feeling that I needed to get somewhere quick, so I skated faster and faster, relishing the speed and fluid motion of the skates. I had a mixture of emotions - the urgent need to get somewhere or find something, yet a complete feeling of peace and elation as my skates took me all over town. I skated through parks, over bridges, inside of department stores and even did a couple laps at The Shamrock roller rink. I never got to where I needed to go, and I never figured out where that was, either - but it was important.

My question (and challenge) for you is this: what does it all mean?

Seriously... ROLLERSKATES!

I used to be quite the skater in my day. I would pull on those beauties and skate around my neighborhood, The Shamrock (our local rink back in Cali), and as I got older, The Strand. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Southern California, The Strand is miles and miles of sidewalk that runs along the beaches. It is also the perfect place for people-watching, which is a super fun activity. And so, I could skate myself ragged, checking out all the interesting characters that shared The Strand with me - bikers, skater boys, runners, dog-walkers, and fellow skaters. I can't remember what happened to my prized skates, except that they must have been left behind in my quick move to Utah. I probably assumed people didn't skate up mountains and they wouldn't be needed. Pity.

A few months ago, while I was still pregnant, I had a strong desire to rollerskate. No, not roller blade, roller skate. Rollerblades and my ankles do not get along. Anyway, I dismissed the thought because I did not want to harm my growing bambino, but the idea has continued to grow. So I started to do research - where could I buy skates? Other than the local skating rink there were only skates for kids available. And I was NOT going to pay $300 for a pair of professional rollerskates, as I am not a professional (yet). Apparently the market for 'quad-skates' (as I discovered they are called) is all in kids age 6 and under.

Aren't the 80's back, though? I mean, all the other things I loved as a kid are cool again - Care Bears, My Little Pony, Rainbow Brite, I even saw some Garbage Pail Kids cards the other day. 80's music is all over the radio, girls are even wearing those Madonna-type clothing styles and leg warmers again. And so I ask...where are the rollerskates?!

Online, of course.

I looked on the internet and found an amazing array of skates available, although I did not want to purchase them without trying them on or seeing the real thing. I mean - ROLLERSKATES! This is a serious purchase. I decided to forget about it. And then the longing grew... so I caved.

The skates pictured above are on their way.

So if you see a 30-something lady skating down the river trail (or around my neighborhood, for that matter) like a crazy lunatic with a smile on her face, it's probably me.

Just smile and wave.