i was a...

teenage full grown woman roller derby girl! many smiled at this & said “you’re going to do what?”…”oh, cool!” (the doubt was thicker than an august night in the south) but i had decided this, & i was going to play, come hell or high water…exclamation point. for some reason, being in my 30’s made me brave (i was never too terribly brave before) & it did something to me. if i was going to state it, i was going to stand behind it; or at least try, try, try. & roller derby was no exception. i had played basketball as a kid (9-16) & i knew i would adore the team atmosphere at the very least. but, oh crap! i couldn’t even skate (something that i should have realized before; eyes bigger than stomach scenario) the last time that i’d laced a pair on was at a 6^th grade ‘just say no’ skate night; at which time, i didn’t have a boy to couple skate with, spent shoot the duck moments at the snack bar creating awesome “suicide” drinks, & frankly, during that “all skate,” wasn’t all together steady enough to make it around without grabbing the sides or a poor friend to the floor. & did i mention that i am the most uncoordinated person alive? (this never did go away). after 6 months though, they (the “many” i mentioned above) started to believe me. that i was actually playing this intense, fast-paced, kick-booty sport, & for once (in myself) so did i!

nevermind the makeup, clothing, monikers…this isn’t staged. no choreography. this is as authentic a sport as there ever was. & the heart & soul involved is out of this world amazing! from hard core practices (ranging from 6-8 hours a week or more…year round) to monthly bouts (at home or drive a few to several hours…hurt so good for days) to extra-derby! to meetings to fundraisers to community awareness! i mean, when does a girl get to wash those stinky pads? (*grin) did i mention the outside world as well? jobs, school, family, children…really. these women can just do it all. (i never felt so organized & in charge...in my life!)

but, what i would learn (personally) throughout this whole experience would be more than i anticipated; a new family, self-worth, & confidence. insane warm fuzzies wrapped in sweat times 10. can i do absolutely anything that i put my passion to? yes, yes…i most certainly can! roller derby showed me that. & i was no gretzky meets tyson either. i definitely lived up to my (ahem) self given name “bruise” (short for bruisella)…the hell was i thinking? killer…always killer, or kill-her! *shake my head & laugh! but every KO & back at ‘em proved that i was so much stronger than i’d ever given myself credit. & what a rush!

*plus, the ladies that i work with at the library would always ask how it was going, want to see my bruises (they were plentiful & hey, i earned those bad boys), & always brought me magazine or newspaper clippings related to anything derby! (it was sweet support from a random place.)

so many personalities, backgrounds, ages, etc. all mashed into this one core team of awesomeness. whether you’re “a hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer…come in! come in!” no prerequisites were required! & these girls…these girls are the best that i’ve ever known. they do not waste time with fancy pretenses. they are about as real as they come. “island of misfit toys,” i used to kid. & it worked. it worked because we were all striving towards the same goal…together…as a team. it was magical! the sorority that i always wanted to join, but never existed in my world before then.

i love these women that i called sisters (& still do, if they’ll have this retired gal)…sisters after my own heart…my team! but most of all, i love the time of my life spent with them. who had my back on & off the track. who lovingly screamed "shut the eff up!" when i started to doubt myself. who helped with my damned butterflies before each bout. who loaned me extra deodorant before the after party (but no chapstick…ha). who put a makeshift ice pack on my ass & laughed with me through the pain. all goodness, wonderful memories for me, & i think about it every single day! it truly was an honor!

you have no idea how glad i am that i went with my gut, pulled my big girl panties on, & followed a crazy (unknown) journey like i did. i haven’t been the same since. empowering, to say the least. 

so, have you witnessed roller derby yet? or played? i encourage everyone i meet to play, even though they look at me like “yea, whatever” or “i could never do that!” hey, if i could do it, i think anybody can…coordination, remember?! just ask yourself, “do i have heart?” if yes, then go for it. if it’s something you wanted to try, but weren’t sure, start with baby steps…find a fresh meat practice to roll around in or an open practice to observe or watch from the crowd at a bout (or all the above). you’ll always wonder if you don’t…i know that i would have. don’t let others discourage you from seeing for yourself, either. ps…i have faith in you!

**my team, the richland county regulators http://www.richlandcountyregulators.com/ host their next home bout against the brrg french broads (from asheville, nc) on march 24^th. it’s definitely something you need to check out if you haven’t already…go ahead & buy your tickets now! i’m opening up a whole new addiction for you…just saying. ooh, & before i forget, there’s a men’s team, too…carolina wreckingballs!! (you’re so gonna thank me!) but, wait, there’s more…there is yet another team in the columbia area http://www.columbiaquadsquad.com/! pack those houses, people! buy those tickets! support local roller derby!

&, if you’re not in this area…no fretting! i bet if you google roller derby teams (where you live), right now (go do it), you’re gonna find a team right around the corner. trust me, it’s like that. you are bound to find a bout coming near you! (i can think of 8 teams in south carolina alone, right off the top of my head) seriously…you’re gonna be reformed!

*don’t forget the kids (family oriented sport), your merch monies for that tee/koozie/whatevers of your new fave team! or better yet, make it a “date night!” there’s also sips & noms…because, after all, it is a sport!! treat it as such…sit back (actually, you won’t want to sit) & enjoy!