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| Me yesterday (10/19/10) |
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| Me with my frizzy hair today (10/20/10) |
October has been filled with lots of excitement and lots of surprises, but since my busy schedule got in the way I was unable to tell of these adventures. Tonight, at 8:44 PM, is my chance. So I'm going to take a deep breath, get my fingers ready for typing, and here I go.
Remember when I told you about Swing Dance? Well, we had the tryouts over a week ago. For a long, putrid week Mrs. Spiers put together a routine, one that we were all required to do. Both my partner, Grant, and I understood it, but we just didn't coordinate well. Our steps were off, one of us would usually mess up on a certain part, and we both had a lot of work to do. We cleaned it up two days before the tryout, practicing constantly, but when Mrs. Spiers asked us to add our own moves, our creativity just didn't come out. We decided to just stick with the same pattern and repeat it over and over, even if by the end of the song we were drenched in sweat.
It was Wednesday after school, just minutes before the tryouts would begin, that I realized, "What am I doing, trying to ask a 7th grader I barely even talk with to dance with me?" But it was too late now. It was our turn. We walked on stage with three other couples and got in position. My legs were shaking and my teeth were chattering. This was the moment when all the practice was to pay off, but I didn't feel confident up there. Should I have felt that way?
"Rockin' Robin", the song we'd been practicing with for what seemed an everlasting week, blared out of the speakers, full volume. I felt that I had good rhythm, stepping exactly on the right beat. I messed up, however, on an easy move. I could tell the judges were not pleased.
While everyone else out there was doing flips and kicks and twirls and crazy impressive moves, Grant and I just went along, repeating the same choreography that Mrs. Spiers had taught us. I was dripping with sweat, though I tried not to show it. I was relieved when the song ended and the judges had recorded the scores. It was done and over with, and that was all that mattered to me.
The next morning the list of people who had made the cut was hanging out of the front doors leading to the gymnasium. I didn't expect to make it, for I knew I'd done terrible in the tryouts, no matter how many compliments I got from the others. And guess what? My inference was true. I didn't make it. Hurrah. I reported the news to Grant, who didn't seem very disappointed, either. We just went along like it was no big deal. We had been rejected, but that was fine with me. It is how it is.
School lags on, and the lessons get more challenging. There is a test or quiz at least once a week, and the discipline is getting harsher. Tardies are unacceptable with the teachers, being this far into the school year. In fact, the first quarter ends next week. I am both excited and unhappy. I should at least try to enjoy it; I have no choice if I want to skip school or not. Seven and a half more months and we're out for another two months! Can't wait...
Tanner is recovering quickly. Today he even threw the ball thirty yards. There is no pain in his arm, but he can feel the pin that was inserted in his collar bone during the surgery. It must be disturbing to him, but he is used to it. In the next two games he may be playing again!
My beautiful mother's birthday is on Friday. She turns...oh, why does that matter? I can't wait to celebrate the birth of the woman who gave birth to ME. She is the cheese to my macaroni, the Ramen to my Top, the shine to my sun. I love her always and forever.
For Halloween I plan to be a neon freak. I'm going to dress up in all neon and wear lots of glow sticks so that when it gets dark, I'll be very noticeable from far away. Just another example of rocket science from Abby Mangum.
The first Hoop Dreams practice is in the beginning of November. I am so excited, I'm almost losing it.
Life is good...
...but then again, I have a World Civ. quiz tomorrow.
♥ Abigail ♥
