I'll give you the Phil Collins answer......
Well you can tell everyone I'm a down disgrace, Drag my name all over the place, I don't care anymore.
Holy guacamole Victor, it'd be interesting to peek at the dayum GPS destination of your brain on this blog.
I ain't real sure yet. One of the first things I read this morning was the story of Alysa Liu, a 20 year old cutie patootey that just became the first American in 24 years to win the Gold Medal in Figure Skating in the Olympics.
Victor, granted, that is special, but, there has been a long, long line of "cutie patootey US Figure Skaters". And, 'cutie patootey' sounds kinda misogynist don'tya think?
Holy guacamole, I guess I get it... in the day and age of 'those files', the Me Too movement, that, I get it. BUT... can one say 'cutie patootey', meaning, from my stinky feet, fulla spunk, a livewire, incredible, welcoming smile, complimentary without it being labeled a misogynist? And, I think your question, in spite of the 24 year gap since out last Gold Medal winner - should be, "What makes her so special, in a long, long line of special skaters?
Well, she was retired the three years previously. VICTOR, she's 20?
Well you can tell everyone I'm a down disgrace, Drag my name all over the place, I don't care anymore.
Alysa first 'went to work' (laced up them ice skates) as a five year old. At age 9, she took 7th place in the Central Pacific Regionals. Age 10, she became the youngest skater ever to win an International competition, winning the US Championship.
She went, here, there, everywhere (CA, Bangkok, NY, Poland, Estonia, Vegas, Toronto, Detroit, Greensboro, Bejing, Norwood, MA, Germany, Vancouver, and hunnerds of rinks around the world) and won, dang near everywhere.
At the ripe old age of 17, she announced her retirement from the sport. ARE. YOU. CRAZY? Well you can tell everyone I'm a down disgrace, Drag my name all over the place, I don't care anymore.
For 12 years, her life was, get up, go skate, come home, go to bed, get up, do again. (With, uh huh, education thrown in.) "Feel I lived up to my end of the bargain. Many times, it wasn't enjoyable."
Three years, later, she, being a normal kid again, went skiing with other normal kids. The adrenaline rush was strong, similar to skating. "Wait, let me get on the ice, see what it feels like." Holy guacamole, it musta felt good. This time though (TBC)
Skating would fit into her life, not the other way around. Her own music. choreography, structure. Stop chasing approval, start chasing connection.
You know, you know, you know my name. NO DAMNIT, that ain't. I needta change the name of this damn blog to "Lyrics keep sneaking in." You know the rest of the cutie patootey story.
Obits. NO! Not cutey patootey! I find obits, strangely, thereapuetic. A lady who'd had a blessed life. Travel the world. Working in schools helping children. Great marriage, kids, then, MS set in. Mice and men. Undaunted, she continued to love and live... they listed TV shows and magazines she enjoyed in her final years.
I enjoy amazing human stories, and sounds as if she was an amazing human. I will admit, I reach frustration with a baby affliction but man oh man, when i read some'a the things people must live with, I feel like I should be a "whackamole" as in, SHUT UP VICTOR, your life is blessed, and. IT IS!
The next person (obits)... Horrific auto accident 21 years into her life (51 years ago), left her paralyzed and wheelchair bound.. yet, it was inscribed her life was defined by unyielding resilience, positivity and faith. She finished her degree, even got a Masters in Social Work.......... and, a lifetime spent as an advocate for disability rights. In fact, thanks to an article about her was the impetus for a nursing home reform bill that allowed other Kansans with disabilities to live independently and manage their own care.
The cutie patootey, the beautiful ladies with MS and paralysis, I care about.
Guacamole, not so much.
Well you can tell everyone I'm a down disgrace, Drag my name all over the place, I don't care anymore.
Love, Victurd
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