Friday, January 19, 2007

Friday Night Music and Reflections 1.19.07



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Heavenly Memories : [click the title : Duran Duran "Sunrise", good music to drive a Jag and yes, the Art is indeed a Aberto Vargas Girl Pinup 1942]
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It is finally Friday evening. There is snowstorms here by the Great Lakes, beautiful , cold and windy. A good weekend to curl up by the fire with some books and the Blogs.It has been a long week. ( I will let you know what I think of Obama's Books).I stomped around for days in the freezing rain, and I found a new beautiful place to live, thank you for all who rooted for me and my son. Now you all just have to put up with me as I pack,groan, and pack. I have thought alot about us Bloggers and the gang at the Enigma Cafe and the Hurdles we face and the Hope that Binds us.
Some Thoughts for the Night...
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ABOUT HURDLES IN LIFE.....
A long time ago I was in highschool. I went to an All Boys Highschool, and there were very few girls those first few years in the 1970's, and most of them were "girlie". I was a Tomboy, and I decided to go to the highschool because it had Things I Wanted, like really good science classes, and physics and Trig.It let me explore things that as a girl had never been made available to me.
One rainey day at Lunchtime I was hanging with some friends by the Track, and Hurdles were all set up. Low and High Hurdles, and one of my friends, Billy B, taking a drag off a cigarette joked- "Betch Can't Do Them". Hmm, Big Mistake to say That to Enigma, especially the "Can't " part.
So I looked at them, and I looked at him, and I said "What do I get if I Can do them ? "
He looked at me and laughed. "I will send Brett over and take you to dinner and he will pick you up in an Antigue Jaguar , wearing a Tux."
[ Background: The person mentioned had already graduated and did indeed have access to a beautiful old 1964 sleek Jag- and did not know I was even living and breathing. I was a mere nerdy junior and 15, definently not on his radar or his hemisphere.]

I mulled it for a few seconds, as I watched Billy B smoking the growth stunting Lucky Strike.
" Do I get to Drive the Jag ?
Billy looked back at me in total shock , "What ???!!!"
I said "Do I get to Drive It, even for a few seconds ?"
Billy shook his head, and laughed again, " Shit if you can run High Hurdles I will even pay for the gas.
I looked back at him " Okay, Done. Meet me here at 5pm, I can't do this wearing clogs, and don't blow anymore Lucky 's in my face. And bring the gas money".

Okay, now for The Confession.
I had never ever run Hurdles, low or high. Now I was a little of a tennis player- and I used to like to jump the net all the time, so I figured that I could atleast jump, how high I had never really contemplated.
My Great Aunts had taught me how to play poker, so obviously I had learned The Bluff part well.
I sat up in the Locker room and put on my Hockey cleats and decided that they should work okay on the muddy wet track. I also decided that I better figure this out quickly. So I went down to the Library. I needed some Inspiration .I had read Babe Didrickson's Autobiography the summer before. If you don't know about her, you should look her up in Wikipedia- she is amazing. ( Babe Didrickson Zaharias). Anyways the thing about her was that she greatest woman athlete of all times ( in 1975 anyways). And she played Golf and Basketball and also Hurdles.She also was a Very Classy Lady. So I went and read and thought about her, and how she just Put her Mind to Things, she never thought" I can't do it", she just tried to figure out How to Do It. Whether it be High Jump ( head first ) or Hurdles or Golf.

So 5pm I went back to the track, and in true "let's make her feel bad" fashion, Billy B. brought a gang of friends, so there was a nice little crowd, and they had set up a betting pool.

So Billy said "So how many times have you run them before, you know, the LOW ones ?"( nice and loud with a snicker, so everyone could hear)
I said quietly, " None, ever."
I watched the money now being passed between hands with great enthusiasm.
He laughed, " None ? Not the High or the Low ?"
I looked at him" Yup. None. But you said "Betcha Can't". So I have to prove you Wrong,cause the only reason you said "Can't " is cause I am a girl."
He nodded.
So I looked back at him, " So here's the deal, I hope you brought the gas money, and about the bets, I want 20% of that betting pot, is that clear ?"
He looked nervous. "Sure".

Epilogue:
I ran the Hurdles that day. High and Low. I don't reccomend the Hockey Cleats, but they worked for that day. I only knocked over One. I ended up running Hurdles on the Boys Team that year, Thank You Title IX. And oh, yeah the Betting pool bought my dress, and yeah driving a Jag even for 10 minutes is Heaven.

Moral: Never Ever Doubt Yourself Especially When Others are. Your Destiny is in Your Hands. Always.

23 comments:

enigma4ever said...

Okay a messege to 6-6, my son, cuz I know you read my blog. Your mom was very bad to go driving a jaguar or any car with only a Learners permit. Is that clear ?...good.

( and No, you may not get a jaguar when you are 16).

( ahem, now when you are 18, and have saved for it and let your old lady drive it occasionally- that we can discuss... ahem, I meant Negogiate.)

oh, and about Brett and the Tux, and the Dinner, well, let's just put it this way- the Jag was indeed the Highlight of the night....enuf said.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful story. It goes with a lesson that I learned many years ago: You can go almost anywhere if you look like you belong there. It really is a matter of attitude.

Anonymous said...

yea! girls rock!! so glad you found a nicer place and i'm sending you virtual energy to help you pack and get rid of all the stuff you no longer need. i find moving to be great for that...getting rid of stuff

thanks for the video -- i'm on my way out to dance...have a wonderful weekend!

Anon-Paranoid said...

Great story enigma, and yes you do have good taste in art. Where are you moving too that's by what lake? Than again its really none of my business.

God Bless you.

Anonymous said...

Good for you. I cleared the high hurdles, once. I guess my legs were too tired on subsequent tries cuz I could never repeat.

Cozy up and enjoy your snow. Winter didn't come to Spain.

enigma4ever said...

JUSTIN: hey there...no snow eh ? so sorry....but atleast you have the sun...( hell at this rate we will all have Sun and warmth...) yeah, about the hurdles- never again...I kept thinking about the Hurdles when I was walking around trying to find a new spot- I don't know why ;-)

ANONP: Lake Erie love....just one of the Great Lakes...( I am not so sure they are great- but anyways..)

AZ: have fun dancing- maybe the DuranDuran song will help....have a great weekend...

Jamie: I like that - a matter of attitude...

Aarlene: welcome back...hope all is well down there...down south....moving is moving...no worries I will survive....thanks...

Anonymous said...

Track AND Trig? I bet those guys were amazed & at least one of them worried they wouldn't be able to get the Jag & would have to face the wrath of your cleats! A unique way to win a date, that's for sure.

I'm glad you put that disclaimer to your son above, I was wondering about that (I bet he was, too, heheh).

I think the last time anyone said to me betcha can't do that, it involved balancing on one leg w/my eyes closed & my arms held straight out. I couldn't, but I don't think "doubt" had anything to do with it. Try it! ~~ D.K.

Coffee Messiah said...

Enjoyed your story.

So many people go through this, in one form or another. ; (

I didn't outlive my upbringing until I was in my 40s, now, a certain someone in my family who made a
point of always putting me down, all of a sudden, in his golden years, finds nothing but good in me.
I mentioned one time that if he'd treated me like this growing up, did he realize I might not
have been so afraid to utilize my potential?

I worked it out on my own, but still made sure my son didn't grow up in this way!

Cheers to you and Thanks for the mention below. Awfuly nice of ya! ; )

enigma4ever said...

Those Hurdles have been on my mind this week..something about trooping about in pouring rain that set me mind on it...

DK: yup....crappy date really- Brett turned out to have a bit of an Ego- thought he was ALLL that- but the car was so sweet- purred..yup son saw the discalimer- knew he would....said he still wants a ride in a Porshe- hmm, not sure he even would fit...now about the balance and the eyes closed- no can do....

CM: yup....we all grow up somehow- and some of us turn out okay in spite of it or ourselves....I am in my 40s now and I think I kind of raised myself...and how you end up thinking of your youth at the oddest times...I was very lucky in some ways- my parents never came ot any of my things- so I just kind of was like Oh Well....
my mother was embarrassed I did track...hurdles...I have no idea why...now I look back at that and say wow what was her problem....my son knows that what ever he is interested in I am there for him...

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the lead on Sylvia Beach Hotel It looks like just my kind of place.

Unknown said...

omg..what a great story. So full of hope and so inspiring.

thank you! :)

Dr. Know said...

Well, Hello, enigma4ever,
Fancy meeting you here. OK, maybe not, but it's interesting to see what last nights thread stimulated in your subconscious. Funny how the strangest things set of an avalanche of change.
Inspiring Blog, BTW.

Anonymous said...

Enigma, how do you know about the Sylvia Beach? We've walked through it when we visit the Oregon Coast. Love the idea, we just prefer another place.

Great story about the hurdles. Title IX advantage - guys have to clear them just a tad higher!

enigma4ever said...

PHIL: The Sylvia Beach Hotel is so special- it is amazing...you gotta check it out- the Oscar Wilde Roo, Edgar Allen Poe Room, and the DrSeuss rooms are all incredible.

Dr.Know: You actually have it slightly wrong- I came over to C&L to listen to music-after I threw this post up dinnertime on Friday....I was in a "car" mood and 1970s' music mood when I arrived at C&L later last night...but one thread led to another- that you are correct...glad you like the blog...

Dusty: I only tell stories if they lift us up and help us find the better the Hope inside....

Jamie: It is an amazing place...I would go back in a minute...

Cheers all..back to the packing...

Dr. Know said...

Yes, I noticed that the time stamps were preceeding the LNMC after posting - I had it backwards. Such is life...

Anon-Paranoid said...

Hi enigma...
Sorry to blog whore, but I thought you might be interested in this.

See my latest post on my site about the death of Barney. At least one more update, maybe two for the full story so you will need to check back a few times to read it all.

Also anyone else who's interested is welcome.

God Bless.

enigma4ever said...

Anon I will be right over..took a break from the Packing..Barney ? dead ? oh no....this does not sound good...

Everyone Anon P has a wonderful blog- he is over on the Blogroll- America Weeps...please read...

( hmm, I might have to update the Blog Roundup this weekend)

Anonymous said...

nice story Enigma!

Anon-Paranoid said...

enigma...

You got there before the update got posted. It's up now and I still have one more to go.

Since it was so long it took me longer to do it than I thought and the next one may too.

I am going to try to finish it before midnite and then tomorrow maybe a eulogy to Barney and a special comment on a new post.

Take care and God Bless you.

enigma4ever said...

hmmmm Anon a Eulogy ...wonderful......

Anon-Paranoid said...

enigma...

Last update is now up and ready for reading. I suggest you start at the beginning and read the whole post through to get the full effect.

I left a special comment in the comment section for anyone who reads the post and wishes to leave a responce to it.

Please feel free to recommend it too any of your readers or friends and please tell them not to feel shy about leaving a comment as too what they think about it.

I'm an adult and can take both positive and negative feedback unlike Der Fuehrer Bush and his Gestapo Minions.

Time too hit the sack and well be back on line tomorrow.

God Bless you.

Pursey Tuttweiler said...

OMG,
Enigma,
You never cease to amaze me. I, especially love the message of your last line, the Moral. Never Ever Doubt Yourself, Especially When Others Are. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful, just like the visions of you accepting that challenge.

Man o Man, you started out your life as a hurdle jumper and never stopped.

I cannot wait to buy your book. You are a true inspiration, my friend.

Hey, when your actual move begins, I will throw a moving party for you at GA, my friend. So glad you found a place for you and sonny boy to live in. In spite of all the hell and groans that go along with moving, this will be for the best. You two will love it, I can tell.

Big hugs, and get ready for a big moving party, another hurdle to jump. Who says you cannot do it, no one, no one.

CLUTCH PURSEY, I SWEAR!!!

enigma4ever said...

Ahhhhh Pursey- you are too much, Just all of us are facing some interesting times right now- so I am trying to help lift us up and meet the Hurdles with a laugh and some Hope...

(oh BTW please be sure to see I put you in the Enigma Cafe Blog Round Up....the GA is amazing...and has made me laugh at the most obtuse moments....)

And I laughed today 6-6 read this and was like we can negogiate about the CAR right ? and he also pointed out "gee you better hope Brett doesn't blog" ( ekkk hadn't even thought of THAT....)

And definently a another momentous Moving Party over at GA...that would be great....you pick the Theme...

Anon: Oh Boy....I will definently be adding you to the Blog Round Up in the Am.....