This is why I failed at keeping a diary.

Sooooooo...it has been just about six months since I last posted anything.  I actually have a good reason.  Since making Fresh Meat, which now feels like a million years ago, I have been very, very busy. Being on Fresh Meat was a huge leap in time commitment.  While Wreckers was drop-in, FM had mandatory attendance.  In all, it was good.  Actually, the toughest part wasn't the skating, but the social situation instead.  Almost everyone knew each other from Wreckers, and since I had done that for a whopping month, I had a hard time fitting in.  You would think that at age 37, I wouldn't feel like an awkward 7th grader. It got lots better, and I ended up making some terrific friends.

After busting my hump for three months, at one point, skating up to six days a week, I became eligible for the team draft.  On March 10th, during Fresh Meat practice, I received one of the best voicemails of my life: it was from Punchkin.  She was congratulating me on being drafted to Guns and Rollers.  (I get a little misty just thinking about it).

Nine days later, I was suited up in borrowed pink zebra-print hot pants and skating in my very first bout.  It. Was. Amazing.  I even scored some points.

The next bout was in front of over 5000 people at Memorial Coliseum.  Wha?

Now it is the end of May, with the semi-finals and season championships happening in the next three weeks.  I honestly still can't believe that I am doing this.  It has been six months since I first took that lesson at Oaks with Sugar and Vice (who is now one of my teammates).  I can't believe that I am on GnR.  The camaraderie, integrity, passion, positivity, humor, and spirit of my team is overwhelming.  I am humbled to be a part of it.

I have learned so much about myself in this journey to being a derby girl.  I had NO idea how much this experience would change and challenge me.  Nor did I know how much love I would receive from others through this.  Sometimes I think Matt needs to be out there on the track with me, considering I would positively not have been able to do this without him.  Then there are my family and friends who put up with my neglect and absence and too often had to hear: "I can't, I have derby." My friends who have come to the bouts-friends from all parts of my life.  Former students.  My family in Michigan who live-streams the bouts and has viewing parties, even though it is three hours later there.  My brother who comes to bouts dressed like Slash.   The five that traveled up from Santa Cruz and made t-shirts.  There I go again-getting teary. I have felt so much love.  It is overwhelming.  Thank you all so much.  Ok, officially crying now.

I didn't know how much I needed to do this--to do that "something" I talked about in the beginning. I still can't believe it is real, although the constant aches and pains remind me that it is. Yes, derby hurts, but for some reason, I feel the gratitude more.