Reminiscing Again

I suddenly realized that I did not list all my so-called athletic experience in my reminiscing posts. (You can find them in the September archives where I wrote at least 3 posts contemplating my history in athletics and the performing arts and whether I am a klutz.)

Indeed, I missed two of my important collegiate attempts at grace and ability. First, I actually took a ballet class. I had never taken ballet as a young girl, but some friends in my college dorm got together and got a local ballet teacher to lead a special class just for us. Some of my friends had ballet experience already (especially a couple of petite twins who were experienced dancers and very limber--we called them the CTU--Contortionist Twin Unit--boy, I miss the CTU!) Anyway, a few of us were fairly hopeless and had never done a lick of ballet in our lives (like me, of course). Still, we had that class for several weeks and learned a lot. I began to feel more graceful even though I probably wasn't actually becoming any more graceful. We got to learn those different positions and even did some leaping about. It was very basic but we had a lot of fun. I still use some of the moves I learned then when I am dancing around my own house (in private or in front of my little boys, who are the best audience ever). It's a great asset to my around-the-house dancing, which also consists of moves learned in show choir, at many high school dances, and in hard rockin' mosh pits in the 90's.

Another athletic attempt was when I took Fencing in college. Yes, I took a fencing class! And I got A's in it! It was taught by a short, geeky, philosophy teacher (Dr. Hill--many thanks to Chappy for reminding me of his name). Our fencing class was overwhelmingly male, and they tended to be of the less athletic, more cerebral (i.e. nerdy or geeky) type. There were only 2 or 3 of us girls. I had the most ample chest of the girls, so I got to wear the one set of breast plates that the fencing class had. It was a little embarrassing being the only one who wore breast plates, but it was also fun when one of the boys clinked a foil against my chest and then blushed furiously. They were very reluctant to hit me in the chest, which I found to be a great fighting advantage. I remember doing fairly well at fencing. I wasn't necessarily one of the best in the class, but I was far from the worst, which is really saying something for a klutz like me. I also never signed up to go to competition, and I didn't take a second semester, so that's where my brief fencing career ended. I still remember it fondly, though, and I occasionally take up a fencing position, salute, lunge, and thrust. I can't even remember all the cute little French fencing terms, but I find that my body has not forgotten the moves (like riding a bike, I guess).

It's hard to believe that a klutz like me has survived so many ungainly attempts at athleticism, but I keep on keeping on. Nowadays it's all about step aerobics, weightlifting, kickboxing, and even (gasp) the occasional jog, so I haven't given up on being stronger and faster. I have, however, pretty much given up at competing athletically, though I'll never say never. ;)