Full Circle

I got asked to sub on a ball team tonight in a league that I use to play in when I first moved here. I had forgotten how to get there, so I had to MapQuest it and get directions. En route everything was good and as I continued to follow the directions it all started to become familiar to me. Then as I turned the last corner into the residential area the memories flooded back to me...

It was 1998 and I was new to the city and didn't really know anyone who played ball but as luck would have it I found a team looking for a girl to play. So I grabbed my gear and headed out to play for this team of unknowns. Initially I was a little surprised as it was definitely a smaller league because there weren’t even fences or an infield where shale would normally be. Needless to say I played with this team for 2 years and in the second year we won the championship, I was totally stoked. But then in a turn of bad luck (depending on how you look at it) I no longer was able to play for the team and they dis-banded. Eventually I made my way to another league and found a much better team and league. I am grateful for the time I played in the smaller league but am much happier where I am.

Weird how all those memories came flooding back to me with one turn of a corner. I'll never forget my time there and as I continue to sub for this team as it makes me appreciate where I am today not only in ball but in life. 

Weird how life comes full circle.

Cutlass Supreme

I dropped my mom off today and as I was leaving an old car caught my eye. It was a two toned 1980's Cutlass Supreme. Immediately I was taken back to my youth as a friend of mine, Lisa drove this exact same car. I couldn't help but laugh a little to myself because I'm about to tell you a story which could only happen to me.

It was the spring of '91 and I had made a new friend from my volleyball team, turned out she was a cousin on my dad's side. Her name was Lisa and she had just moved back to town from the big city. I soon discovered that Lisa was a lot of fun and knew a lot of what I might call 'people I wouldn't normally hang out with.'

As a normal 16 year old, I was going through all of the angst that any red blooded teenager goes through. I made the bright decision to skip school and go to visit a friend of Lisa's. The plan was to tell our parents we had a volleyball tournament so that we could skip school and then head out to a neighbouring city about 2 hours away. So we went ahead with the plan and all seemed well until we got there. I know initially this doesn't sound all that big of a deal, however Lisa's friend was an inmate and not only was I skipping school but I was driving 2 hours out of town to go to a maximum security jail. Right about now is when my mom is cringing because I don't think I've ever told her this before. Sorry to break it to you like this mom, but you'll be happy to know I've learned a lesson from this.

(Back to the story...)

It was so weird because I had never been to a jail before, we had to go through a metal detector (like at the airports), get frisked (I think the cop enjoyed this more than I did) and finally all of our belongings were out on display for all to see (did I mention I carry tampons with me??) After being humiliated we met with her friend behind a wall of bullet proof glass. Apparently contact is not permitted. (That's ok, by this time I was too freaked out to want to shake hands.)

 After our timed visit was over and we left one of the scariest places I have ever been in my life we headed for home. On our way home we chatted about how we had fooled our parents and our plan was a success...no sooner did we say that and there it was right in front of us...my dad's truck. On a 4 lane highway 2 hours away from home my dad, brother and grandfather were here. How could this be??? Immediately I ducked down thinking no one saw me...

All the way home I couldn't think of a lie good enough to tell my parents, Lisa said that they would never catch on and that the volleyball tournament was still the story she was sticking with. The 2 hour drive home was probably the longest and most agonizing ride of my life.

 Needless to say my parents found out, I got grounded and to this day until now my mom only knew that I was in another city. Yes, not one of my shining moments, was it smart...no. But at least it cured me of EVER committing a serious crime.

Who Wants a Pink Car...I Want a Pink Car

On my leisure stroll with the dog, I happened to see a part of my past staring me in the face. I had to do a double take to ensure that it really truly was a piece of my history. There in the 7-11 parking lot sat a 1996 Chevy Cavalier Z22, not just any Cavalier...it was a Pink Cavalier, or as the dealership described it on the bill of sale, 'Raspberry.'

It was the fall of '96 and I was itching for a new ride. I was sick of my Corsica and decided that I would buy a new Cavalier; it was the year the new body style came out. After going into the dealership and narrowing it down to two doors, my last decision was the colour. It was either red or pink. The common sense part of my brain said red, but as you all know common sense is not so common. After weighing the pro's and cons, I decided on pink. My rationale, well growing up in a small town everyone I knew had a red car. I decided that people would be able to recognize me in my pink car. Boy was I right!

People who were looking for me would see my car and know exactly where I was. As time went on this became more of a curse than a blessing. If you think living in a small town sucks, try living in a small town driving the only pink car. If people didn't know what I was doing they didn't have to look very far to find out. This started to really annoy me, as I am a very private person and don’t like everyone knowing my business.

After the car was paid off, I made the conscience decision to sell it or trade it in...Fortunately I was able to sell the car for more of a profit than the dealership was going to give me on trade in. I honestly didn’t think I was going to sell it; but low and behold I found another person who wanted a pink car. It was a young gal; who thought the pink was too cute to pass up…I didn’t have the heart to tell her that she should get ready for everyone to know her business. As I watched my pink car drive away, I walked over to my new shiny silver car and thought “…what’s so special about this car?” Then it dawned on me…I can blend in anywhere and no one will be the wiser.

Despite all the grief I got about buying a pink car, given the option I would probably do it again.

Wanna Sub?

Tonight in a panic I was asked to sub for another ball team. I decided I would help them out because I'm sure if we asked them for a sub they would help us out.

I kind of had a chuckle as during the regular season we are mortal enemies yet when push comes to shove we will help each other out in a pinch.

It's kind of like an all-star game we can collectively play together as a team, yet we dawn our home teams colours. And it's surprising just how well we play together and we have a great time and really bond. But when game time is over we all head our separate ways and await our next game against each other. Knowing full well that despite our connection we are still vying for the same trophy and in the end still enemies...that is until one of us needs a sub.

Being a Tomboy

I don't think I had a choice in the matter. I am the oldest of three children and my dad raised me as the son he hadn't had yet. Also all my older cousins were guys, who use to make me block shots (with a real puck) with no equipment. It was either sink or swim for me and I decided to swim.

As time went on and I got older, I continued to play co-ed sports, work on the farm and take jobs that would make me a stronger and wiser person. In time I did things that would help me to be well rounded. Such as driving a 4-wheeler (or quad) that was a manual transmission. I would look after the horses when need be. I did hay when it was hay season. I learned how to drive a stick shift and hit a line drive in softball. All these things add up to one common thing, being a tomboy. But that's not all that I am, I am also a girl who likes wearing make-up, dressing up to go out, getting my hair done, getting mani's and pedi's. There are so many other girly things that I like, but knowing that I'm also a tomboy is a good thing. It seems to keep me balanced; I'm not too much of one or the other. I like being who I am because it gives me the confidence to do all those things some women are scared of, like laying sod, building a fence or even public speaking. I believe all the experience I got from being a tomboy has given me more courage to do more things myself but more importantly independence. I can stand on my own two feet and do all the things guys can do, only better because I will read the instructions or take my time because I am after all the woman who built it right?

Is It Really Worth It?

On my way to work I can't help but sing along to Rick Springfield's 'Jessie's Girl', it was playing on my satellite radio and I can't wait to see what song will come up next.

I got my satellite radio as a gift about 4 years ago and didn't quite understand the whole concept of it. At first I was a little unimpressed that I got a new electronic gadget for my car...woo hoo.

I honestly had never heard of satellite radio before, I had no clue of what it meant or even how to work it. After doing a little research and discovering that there was a monthly fee associated with it, I almost threw the towel in. I decided to give it a try, one because it was a gift and two because it was commercial free.

After the installation, which my very handy boyfriend did for free I discovered the satellite radio's potential. I was able to discover the different channels, the different genres of music, the ability to save my favourite songs and the radio will prompt me when they come on. The variation in the songs and I even discovered that I can get the score of a game without actually watching (or in my case listening) to it...but the absolute best part was being commercial free.

How is it I lived so long without knowing about this lovely device?? I mean really I guess it was only a matter of time before they came out with this...I mean how many times have you sat through a television show and wished there were no commercials? I mean I personally own a PVR to deal with that problem, but that's a whole other conversation. Anyhow I am now an addict to my satellite radio, I've been using my boyfriend's car and sadly he doesn't have satellite radio in this vehicle...I've been forced to listen to regular radio and I have to say it S-U-C-K-S! So for all you people out there if you enjoy music as much as I do, do yourself a favour by getting satellite radio and paying the monthly fee and if you get two like we did you save yourself a whole heck of a lot of money but it's so very worth it to get commercial free music.

Turning the Big 3-Oh!

Today is my girlfriend’s birthday and she has just turned 30. She's been in a state of depression about it all week. It's all we've heard about for days. The funny thing is she has no clue of what to expect. Her main complaint is wrinkles, sagging and getting old. The way she describes it is like she's Cinderella and when the clock strikes midnight on the morning of her birthday she's going to be an old sagging, wrinkled hag. I just shake my head and laugh at her because she is missing all the good things that happen when you turn 30.

When I hit 30, it's like a light bulb went off in my head. It's like I knew what I wanted, I knew where I wanted to be and I knew who I wanted to be. We struggle all through our twenties trying to "find ourselves" and once we do we don't know what to do with our "new found self." The reason being is that we don't have the experience or knowledge yet to take the next step to get us where we want to be. We need those life experiences to help guide us in the right directions. I couldn't imagine being where I am now, without going through what I did in my twenties. If you don't feel that there is any merit to what I am saying, why is it people in their 30's always say "I wish I knew now when I as 20." It's because life would've been easier, but then they wouldn't be the person they are today without their life lessons. I mean really looking back on it would you want to miss out on all of our life experiences...no neither would I. 

I say we keep doing what we're doing because we are like fine wine; we only get better with age!