I tend to think in terms of “top 5” lists. “Top 5” movies. “Top 5” favorite desert island snack foods. Of course, my internal dialogue hears them read by John Cusack…justifications and all. So, when end of year rolls around, it’s like an excuse to think in terms of “top 5 lists”. Except “Top 5” of ’10 seems to be missing the mark…so for the end of decade…let’s shoot for 10…granted, it may be a watered down 10, and I’m not going to put them in any particular order, because we all know these things vary from day-to-day. Pretend you hear John Cusak too…
Top 10 Great Personal Moments of 2010
- Saw Dolly Parton (and Kenny Rogers) at DollyWood Amusement park. Dolly’s my hair hero…and while the gal is looking a bit rough with all of the plastic surgery, I love how she embraces her gay fans and can laugh at herself when need be.
- Skated in a double overtime derby bout. If you know derby, you know how amazingly rare this occurs. It was epic.
- Did yoga for the first time. Lots of people talk about yoga like it’s just resting, and that if you want to gain anything from it, it has to be hot yoga or rope yoga or yoga with your cat. But they clearly haven’t tried traditional yoga. I did shoulder stands and hand stands and learned that I’m actually pretty flexible for an out-of-shape girl. More importantly, I grasped the concept of clearing my head, thinking in a slow, and logical way. Tuning out distractions, and focusing on the one thing in the pose at that moment. Since starting weekly yoga, there are times where I can even drown out sounds in order to listen to something more carefully. It’s euphoric, and still, all at once.
- Ran my first 5 k. Not bad, considering it took me years to get up to running a mile, or 20 minutes consecutively. Somehow, I did it. In 20-degree-weather. I’m not sure I’ll ever do it again, but it was one of the few times I’ve ever really been proud of myself.
- Transferred to a big girl college, not just the community college that I’ve been at for years, and years. I’m establishing my major as a creative writer, and feel very good for having finally come to a natural conclusion about my path in life. Writing is at least my 4th major in college, but it’s been something I’ve known I enjoyed since I was old enough to enjoy anything. I’m glad that I’ve finally realized that I’m not trying to get a degree to get a job-I want to learn to be good at something that is important to me.
- Road trip to the Carolinas with my husband. Honestly, the vacation itself sucked, but you know what they say…it’s not the destination, but the trip…or something like that. It’s a bonding and strengthening experience to spend literally days in a car with a loved one, and find yourself still wanting to be with that person at the end of it all.
- I got to be on Man vs. Food. No big euphoric point here…just pretty damned cool.
- Got a tattoo. It was deeply personal, and symbolic of the strength that derby gives me…another means of carrying that strength with me in other aspects of life.
- Had my derby comic book published, via Oni Press. I wrote it, but I was very fortunate that my artist did such a remarkable job with the details and essence of me and my team, so the story really does portray my experience.
- seeing my 2nd cousin join jr. derby at age 13. I can’t describe how grateful I am that young women are getting the benefits of derby at such a critical and difficult time in their lives. I’m so proud to be in this derby-society, and even more proud that these young girls are joining us.
And…a few more “tops”:
- Top Beer: the beer that I drank on the bleachers at East Coast Extravaganza Derby event…at 11 am. Something about the freedom to drink at 11 am makes the beer taste better.
- Top Song: The Heartless Bastards “Out At Sea” (they’re also my “top show”)
- Top Movie: Mary and Max. It’s claymation, it’s on netflix on demand…and it’s rare that I’ll get so emotional watching anything.
- Top Book: to be honest, I read a ton of short fiction for classes this year, and I can’t really pick. Mike Birbiglia’s, “Sleepwalk with me” comes to mind though, and I have a feeling he’d like being on anyone’s top list.
- Top Meal: damned hard to pick. the breakfast place we went to during Derby Nationals in Chicago, the post 5k omelette and pumpkin pancakes, the pre-tattoo chicken tacos…I really can’t pick.
Wow…writing a list of top anything can make you feel optimistic…i started this post thinking that maybe I’d be doing a low-points list (which would include seeing only the dead sea turtle while on vacation, watching my neurologically challenged dog drag herself around the house, and nearly totalling my car) but who wants to think about that crap?
Happy New Year Interwebs! I hope 2011’s a good one.
First Whistle 