Grizzly and Golden

I saw Shawn Johnson at a health food store yesterday during my lunch break. I really wanted a photo with her, but I settled for telling her that I'm a "huge fan" and was really sad when I heard that she wasn't going to be able to attempt her comeback this year. She responded with a very quiet "thank you." And then it was OVER.

Which begs a thought and a question. 1. Celebrity is such a strange phenomenon. and 2. Why do I love gymnastics so?!

Post-Thanksgivingly,
Amelia


11/26/2012

Dear Amelia,

In the airport this morning, returning from Thanksgiving holiday, a little girl turned cartwheels on the carpet.  Her younger brother toddled behind her, dumping himself onto his head, flipping himself onto his back.  Their father wore track pants and played tag with the little girl, racing among the baggage carousels. The little boy clutched his mother's leggings and bounced on her foot as she raised it up and down.  I loved the sight of a young family getting out their energy after a four hour flight, but as I watched the girl dismount her cartwheels with tight snaps, expert and careless, I realized I was also witnessing a little gymnast becoming. Not a champion, per se, but a girl flying about in her body, learning how strong it is, and how to move in it. 

I paused.  What was it I felt?  Was it jealousy?  Was it pride - for the little girl, for the free beast inside me who still loves to flip around?  I don't know. It was a moment when I remembered something. Something I had forgotten or simply something I wanted to remember. 

I love the human body.  I love how it can perfom splits and back dives and fly through the air on a trampoline.

Cried through the whole P&G-sponsored video,
Kara