Get Kristie Love mentioned in her blog how old she was when she started hockey. I am impressed and decided to relate my attempts at awe inspiring sports. After all I was a tomboy growing up (until I discovered boys were cute and did not have cooties), and loved the rough and tumble of UNORGANIZED play. King of the mountain, pig pile, tag, street baseball, hide and seek in the dark, you know those really rugged unorganized games. The kind of games that did not require any skill or eye hand coordination. Those were the sports for me.
My family was not surprised when I did not participate in any organized sport program at school. The reasons were many. I did not even take gym class during my high school years. I had a medical excuse from 8th grade that I used for the 4 years I attended high school. The guidance counselor never question the doctor's note and never scheduled me for gym class. I was very happy.
To this day I still ice skate at the same level of skill as I did when I was 16. Slow, but steady, and not having the ability to stop. I can skate backwards though. Physical activity stopped for many years due to severe asthma that required hospitalization. Once we figured out the allergic trigger for the asthma, and removed them I made a complete recovery and have not been bothered by asthma in 18 years. In the early 90's I ran 3-4 times a week 5-7 miles a day but unfortunately had to stop running after 2 serious ankle sprains. I took up gardening.
Then came my attempt to learn how to ski in the late 90's. We took a family trip to Vermont,
my daughter and son could ski and snowboard, so my husband and I decided we would learn to ski. I followed the instructor's instructions to the letter, right down to the part of pushing the big toe of my right foot down so I could turn. Yeah, like that was ever going to happen. I tried and tried and tried. Nothing was working. So when else fails, get on the ski lift and see what happens. Up to the top of the bunny hill I went. It was really high, remember I was in Vermont, they don't grow small hills there. Magically got off the ski lift in one piece, took one look down the hill, removed my skis, and walked down. For 2 seasons I tried to ski, but just could not do it. The positive aspect to this is I got to know the ski patrol guys and gals in Vermont, Colorado (Winter Park), Holiday Valley and Bristol Mountain, not because I was injured but because I would get to the top of the ski trail and refuse to ski down it. I preferred a ride on the back of the ski patrol snowmobiles.
Next, Kickboxing! I love it, was very good at it and even became an instructor. Martial arts type kickboxing, not the girlie fufu kind. But it was not to last more then 6 years. The trend did not last and the dojo stopped holding classes due to lack of attendance. So now I ride (or at least will ride in the warm weather) my bike, and am attending yoga classes. I am still looking for a martial arts based kickboxing class, and would love to participate again. Not instruct, just be a student. I really love it.
So this are my sports stories. Some day I will write about all the ski lift mishaps my husband caused, the situations are very funny. Except the one where the lady ended up being accidentally pushed into a pole by my husband, and getting a nasty bump on her head. That wasn't funny for the lady, but watching it happen was.
My family was not surprised when I did not participate in any organized sport program at school. The reasons were many. I did not even take gym class during my high school years. I had a medical excuse from 8th grade that I used for the 4 years I attended high school. The guidance counselor never question the doctor's note and never scheduled me for gym class. I was very happy.
To this day I still ice skate at the same level of skill as I did when I was 16. Slow, but steady, and not having the ability to stop. I can skate backwards though. Physical activity stopped for many years due to severe asthma that required hospitalization. Once we figured out the allergic trigger for the asthma, and removed them I made a complete recovery and have not been bothered by asthma in 18 years. In the early 90's I ran 3-4 times a week 5-7 miles a day but unfortunately had to stop running after 2 serious ankle sprains. I took up gardening.Then came my attempt to learn how to ski in the late 90's. We took a family trip to Vermont,
my daughter and son could ski and snowboard, so my husband and I decided we would learn to ski. I followed the instructor's instructions to the letter, right down to the part of pushing the big toe of my right foot down so I could turn. Yeah, like that was ever going to happen. I tried and tried and tried. Nothing was working. So when else fails, get on the ski lift and see what happens. Up to the top of the bunny hill I went. It was really high, remember I was in Vermont, they don't grow small hills there. Magically got off the ski lift in one piece, took one look down the hill, removed my skis, and walked down. For 2 seasons I tried to ski, but just could not do it. The positive aspect to this is I got to know the ski patrol guys and gals in Vermont, Colorado (Winter Park), Holiday Valley and Bristol Mountain, not because I was injured but because I would get to the top of the ski trail and refuse to ski down it. I preferred a ride on the back of the ski patrol snowmobiles.
Next, Kickboxing! I love it, was very good at it and even became an instructor. Martial arts type kickboxing, not the girlie fufu kind. But it was not to last more then 6 years. The trend did not last and the dojo stopped holding classes due to lack of attendance. So now I ride (or at least will ride in the warm weather) my bike, and am attending yoga classes. I am still looking for a martial arts based kickboxing class, and would love to participate again. Not instruct, just be a student. I really love it.So this are my sports stories. Some day I will write about all the ski lift mishaps my husband caused, the situations are very funny. Except the one where the lady ended up being accidentally pushed into a pole by my husband, and getting a nasty bump on her head. That wasn't funny for the lady, but watching it happen was.
3 comments:
You have inspired to me to tell my own tales, but first I must go in search of photos!!
Those are excellent sports' tales. Thanks for sharing. I think the important thing is to forever stay active doing something, just like you're doing. I guess there will come a day when I won't play hockey anymore but I don't want to think about that right now!
skylers dad: the thanks goes to Get Kristie Love, love to see the photos
GKL: My husband's cousin gave up ice skating at the age of 77. He is our true inspriation for physical activity. His mind was sharp, he loved life, and physical activity was part of his daily routine. He went to the other side at the age of 86. Always doing something is the key.
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