If you can't avoid being ridiculous, just embrace it.
I remember the day was perfect. A little bit hot and humid, but with a cool breeze from the small summer rain shower. My friend Taylor wanted to try out her new roller blades and with pride I told her I could teach her since I have roller bladed since I was little with my family. I was also hesitant. I always hesitate before committing to anything active. Ugh, I already showered today, do I really want to get all sweaty? It was a beautiful day today, true, but my socializing energy is zeroing out and I need some personal time with my book. Will it be fun? I don't feel like smiling. Or being active. I promised her I would, look excited about this.
I dug out my roller blades from the storage closet, checked and double checked for spiders, then found my knee socks. Ok, hardest step is just getting ready for the physical activity. "Taylor, ankle socks are going to be bad." "Nah, I'll be fine." I wish she would listen to me. I'm supposed to be the teacher.
I decide to take her around the houses near my apartment to stay away from the dirt path that led to the smooth lovely Bear Creek Path. I didn't want her to ruin her bearings with mud. "That looks like a big hill April." "No it will be fine. Well, maybe we should use this hill to go up because the other hill will be better going down. Or the least scary of the two."
We went up the hill, practically walking with our toes pointed outwards at a ridiculous angle. I already felt like an idiot. Gosh I wish it was the 90s again so we weren't the only people with roller blades on. Those kids are staring at us as if they have never seen such a stupid activity. "Hey kid, this was cool way back when." I want to read my book.
We made it to the top of the hill where I tried to teach her how to stop and turn. We approached the second hill to get back home. We picked up speed, my heart pumped with fear. I found some grass to stop in just a small ways down. When I looked back up, Taylor's face was white. "You're right, we should turn around Taylor." She gave me a weak smile.
On the way down the hill we climbed up, we were laughing hysterically trying to slow our speed by running into trash cans and mail boxes. Those kids were laughing at us now. "Stupid kids. We're cool." I feel like an idiot but it feels nice to have the wind in your hair and not a care in the world, except crashing. An old lady walking her dog gave us the same what-the-heck-are-you-doing look. "C'mon lady, this is from your generation." I feel like an idiot. Should have told Taylor to wait until another day when there were no more people in this town.
This picture is an amazing piece of my memory with Taylor. Though my pride continued to sap some of the fun from the activity, Taylor's bravery, her humor with the whole situation, her not caring what people thought, and me pretending like I didn't care was well worth the time away from my book.
No comments:
Post a Comment