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.

 

Done and Done.

I MADE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tryouts

After a ridiculously long Sunday (honestly, there were 42 hours in this day), I drove myself down to the hangar for tryouts,  blasting "Defying Gravity," of course.   I was worried I would be too early.  But, as Sister Pat from St. Mary's said, "To be early is to be on time."  There were about 20 other skaters there (mind you, this is a good 45 minutes before tryouts were to begin).  I felt really good about what to expect since the last two Wreckers practices were designed to prepare us for tryouts.
In total, there were about fifty women trying out.  Once we got started, things went pretty quickly.  I kept focusing on a sign that hangs in the hangar: "Win this moment."
I did my very best. As I type this entry, I am waiting for my phone call telling me if I made it onto Fresh Meat or not.  Dude.

C!

After a ridiculously long week, Friday finally arrived.  Was my excitement about the fact that I have two weeks off of school?  Absolutely not.  All that was on my mind was Wreckers, my derby test and Sunday's tryouts.  In order to scrimmage, all players have to score over 70% on a written test which covers the official women's flat track derby rule book.  For about the last two weeks, I read and reread the rule book (which is about 40 pdf pages). I was going to be taking the test at some point during practice on Friday night.  Practice began with the leaders asking for a show of hands for which skaters were planning on trying out on Sunday.  I raised my hand, along with 95% of the rest of the group.  Gulp.  The leaders then told us that they would be running a mock tryout, so we could have a general idea of what to expect on Sunday.  I was thrilled.  Having only been to a handful of practices, I certainly don't know all there is to know about derby.  Since I am such a novice, my biggest fear about tryouts has been them asking us to demonstrate a skill that I had never heard of-much less tried.  The "tryout" was surprisingly short, as it consisted of only three different drills, and I was familiar with all they asked us to do.  They gave the group some excellent tips about specific skill demonstration and the basics on how to present yourself.
After the mock-tryout portion of the practice was over, those who were taking the written test were called over.  I can't remember the last time I took a multiple choice test.  Maybe it was my driver's test when I moved to Oregon?  I didn't have to take a single test in grad school that wasn't an essay.  The test was harrrrrd.  For example:
Which of the following is considered a minor penalty?
a. cutting the track in front of the opposing team's blocker in the back of the pack
b.  cutting the track in front of the opposing team's jammer in the front of the pack
c. cutting the track in front of the blocker that initiated the block which knocked the skate out of bounds in the first place
d. a and b
e. all of the above.
f. none of the above
g. these are all major penaltys
h. you are an idiot and don't know this answer
Ok, I exaggerated a bit after e.

I finished the 40-question test and got back on the track, convinced that I would NEVER be able scrimmage after taking that test.  One of the other skaters who was talking smack to me last practice (in a good way) resolved to just call me "Winter Sports" from now on, as she somehow became aware of my ice skating background.  Previously, when she was trying to knock me out or catch up to me, she would say "*&%*^% ---*%$#@$ you ice-skating *#%#@!"  Now it is:  "*&%*^% ---*%$#@$ Winter Sports!"

Practice concluded with a rousing game of freeze-tag which is about the most fun thing in the world.  I sat down, absolutely exhausted and peeled my gear off.  On my way out of the hangar, I stopped by the table and asked Avenging Angel, the admin. for Wreckers, if she happened to have graded my test.  She dug through the pile and pulled out my scoresheet.  75%, baby!  Hot diggity dog!

T - 1 week and counting

After a no-skating weekend, I was counting the hours to this weekend when I could skate not just once, but twice, AND try out my new wheels.  On Friday night I had to exercise major restraint since Bennett had a variety show at school at 5:30, and practice started at 6.  Naturally, I had my derby clothes already on, but I camouflaged my getup with boots over my striped socks and a long sweater to cover the rest.  If I had break-away pants, I would have worn them.  Once I got to practice, I was so jazzed to get my new wheels on the track; I couldn't lace up fast enough. The wheels were all I thought they would be and more.  I actually can't believe that I didn't kill myself in the previous two practices with those other wheels.  Not only can I control myself a million times better, I can also FLY.  It felt amazing.  The rest of the practice was awesome. Great skating aside, nothing could top the highlight of my night: when another skater asked me if I was the transfer derby-girl from Texas.  I restrained an outburst of "No, but YEEHAW and thanks for asking!!!" and politely said I wasn't.  After Wreckers, RCR was holding tryouts for the traveling team. It was a hilarious juxtaposition: the best of the best Rose City Rollers warming up around the track while the Wreckers played derby freeze-tag on the track.  I love it!

Saturday's practice went just as great.  We did some super-fun drills, one of which was pretty similar to an actual scrimmage.  Turns out, nothing can beat the thrill of being the jammer.  It was exhilarating.

Tryouts are one week away, and I think I am ready. Who knows if I'll make it-or even if I'll come close.  I am just thrilled to try, and if I'm not what they are looking for, I'll always have a place on Wreckers.

Fueling the fire

Last weekend, much to my dismay, we didn't have Wreckers on Friday night because there was a bout at the hangar. I decided to turn my frown upside down, and I recruited my good pal Kelly to join me in checking it out.  We didn't have tickets and the event was sold out,  so we stood outside in the cold hoping someone would come along with spare tickets to sell.  Luck was in our favor!  We got tickets AND front-row seats.  For the next two hours, we were in roller derby heaven, complete with tall-boy cans of PBR.  It was so much fun. Watching a for-reals bout of derby only fueled the already-blazing fire of my derby desire. Good thing I had that PBR to put it out.

Luposlipophobia

After that first practice, and after thinking about roller derby nonstop all week, I returned the following Saturday to the hangar.  I was bound and determined to catch the nuances of all of the drills, making sure not to blatantly violate any rules.  I was still slightly mortified about the panty incident. (In my head as I walked in: "Here comes that girl who thought she could steal the panty.") Once I got out there on the track, I felt great--well, with the exception of one problem: the wheels on my skates are not designed for derby tracks; they are made for the standard wood floor of typical roller rinks.  Why is that a problem?  My wheels don't grip the floor-----at all.  They slide instead.  The sensation of sliding reminded me of a Far Side cartoon that describes Luposlipophobia: the fear of being chased by timberwolves around a kitchen table whilst wearing socks on a newly-polished floor.  Just make those socks roller skates and you can picture how that doesn't work so well.  I remedied the problem today when I revisited the Oaks Park pro shop and scored me some fancy new wheels which are designed especially for derby tracks.  Goodbye timberwolves.