I was watching a video of random people at Adult Nationals and two things struck me: One: I kept seeing the same people. Two: Not a lot of adult minorities are in this sport. I know what you're thinking: does it ALWAYS have to come down to color? No, but my brown body should have been there.
WIth that in mind, I am going to (again) work my rear end off to take my MIF test and freestyle test and go to AN next year. And I don't care where it's located. (Note please that I say that now. Come August/September when I find out that it's in Alaska or somewhere, I will be complaining, I'll bet money on it.) I haven't gone to AN in so many years, I can't remember when I did last participate. Wait, I think that was the Ted years...
Ted, not a bad coach, just not a good coach for me. I think he quit the business, but I'm not sure. Right now, I can't remember his last name. Right now, I'm not sure I remember MY last name.
I'm trying to figure out my schedule between 3 classes for school, the gym, skating and of course, work. Wednesday night skating at Sky Rink ends in another month and happily so does the disaster called Sunday morning. I'd rather clean port-a-potties than monitor the session on Sunday mornings. I have learned my lesson; sometimes "any ice time at all" is more like "NO ice time at all". Never again.
My biggest concern is Amy and where and when I can have a lesson. I have a class on Saturday morning at 10:00. I could make it to the rink for the 8:00 session, but really, who wants to skate at 8:00am on a Saturday? I really wouldn't blame Amy for saying no to that situation. I could skate the public session after class is over (my class is in Manhattan on Saturdays, in Long Island on Tuesdays and Thursdays - two different schools. Trying to make up for lost time. Long story.) and make for a super long day because I wanted to go to World Ice Arena in the park for the 5:00pm session.
I'm either going to become very fit, very tired or none of the above. What I hope to be is a better skater, fitter and more proficient in my signing. I do have a competition I want to do in October in Florida, however, that means I will be unable to attend a local fashion show I so enjoy watching. But I don't have that date yet and I do have the dates of the competition.
I have work to do.
I have to stop thinking so much and just enjoy the ride. One of my biggest problems (I have several) is that I hate looking foolish. I hold back when skating because I don't really like people to look at me when I'm practicing. I skate small, which is ironic because at 5'6 and over 150 pounds, I am anything BUT small. I stand out at every rink I go to, for various reasons.
As far as school is concerned, I study a lot. And I hate being wrong and looking foolish. It makes for some stilted signing. I need to relax and expect to get it wrong; it is, afterall a foreign language for me.
My dad (RIP Daddy) used to say that I was always thinking. He was right. My mom (RIP Mommy) used to say I didn't laugh much. She was right. Sadly, they are both still correct. I'm working on it.
In the meantime, I have to get to the gym and then get home to stretch some more. I have a spinner I need to use for about 10 minutes and then I have to study for an hour.
What day is today?
Did you know the first triple jump at Adult Nationals was done by an African-American man? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NEQEt_OkOw
ReplyDeleteYou're right there aren't many minorities in adult skating, but there aren't really that many in elite skating either, so it doesn't seem too surprising. Asian-Americans are well represented in ladies, and somewhat in dance, but the sport in general is very white. I wonder why that is...
Good luck on your goal to get to Adult Nationals. It's my dream too...
You are going to be very fit AND very tired!
ReplyDeleteI wonder about race in skating too. Nothing wrong with making an issue out of it, it is an issue. I currently live in northern colorado, the whitest most white place in all of whiteydom, but even when I lived in california there was not a lot of diversity on the ice. Why? At any rate I agree you need to get your beautiful brown skin to nationals!
So glad you're not going to monitor any more, those unappreciative people don't deserve your help.