Friday, April 24, 2009

OUCH!









So, this post is about a month overdue, but better late than never....

For those of you who know me well, you know that I pretty much consider myself invincible on a pair of rollerblades. I discovered this gift at a young age and it became my secret pride and joy. I could go at great speeds, flip around, go backwards, do turns, leg lifts, you name it. And all the while with my head up high, never tripping, falling, or showing any sign of apprehension. And elbow/knee pads??? For SISSY'S!!

After moving to Provo, UT, I quickly learned that it was NOT the ideal place for rollerblading. (Don't even get me started on the tax dollars that are NOT being spent on the roads there). Plus, you take into consideration all the hills, bad weather, etc...Just doesn't work.

So, after moving back to Mesa you can only imagine how happy I was to slip back into my good ol 80 mm Ultra Wheels. It was a beautiful reunion, I really felt like I was back home. Even better than old times because now I had an iPod, so ABBA and the Black Eyed Peas could join me. Could life get better?

I didn't think so for about 2 years. You can imagine how proud I was to discover that I hadn't lost my touch. A few months ago I moved to a different area of town and I love the different routes I can take rollerblading. Its so well-kept, with beautiful neighborhoods, green grass, friendly people, and the spring weather just made me want to go blade as much as possible. Then one Saturday night I got home from work and thought, "I don't care if I'm late for the party tonight, I've just got to go rollerblading, clear my head."

And it was a beautiful night. The sun set and the sky was a blaze of pinks and oranges. I deeply inhaled the orange blossoms and fresh flowers. Life could NOT get better...but it could get worse I realized as I was suddenly FLLYYYYYYYYING through the air...........

Dumb cable box that just had to be raised slightly enough to make contact with the front of my blade. At the moment I lay there splat on the ground I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I was more sad about ruining my perfect rollerblading streak than I was about the huge strawberry on my leg. Ya ya, stupid pride :)

I am happy to report that this lovely strawberry, my red badge of courage, is healing well although it is going to leave a pretty ugly scar. And I am back on those 80 mm's and going strong baby, although I'm starting to think that knee pads may not be such a bad idea.

5 comments:

The Standrings said...

oh jules, that looks like it hurt! and i didn't know you were such an accomplished rollerblader!

Stephanie Evans said...

First of all... OW! Second of all, I loved how you wrote that out in personal narrative style. If I was still teaching school, I would seriously have read that to my class as a good example of a personal narrative. :) Cute stuff. So we are coming to Mesa over Memorial weekend! If you are in town I'd love to see ya!

Lisa said...

Oh girl that looks painful! Might want to stay off those Kmart specials for a while!

Heidi said...

OUCH is right!! I got a strawberry on my leg once from rollerblading that looked very similar. I tried to go down a steep hill that wasn't paved. Not the smartest thing I've ever done! I don't have much of a scar now. Maybe yours will end up that way too!

Shawn and Tasha said...

Wow Jules! What a great story (makes me miss you by reading your words) and OUCH! I hope your battle wounds have healed by now. You could definitely show me up on blades any day.:) Hope things are going well for you!! Love you!