gulong, harbie, gulong

you can't teach old dogs new tricks. but old people, yeah, they're workable.

last saturday, je and i went to the park to rollerblade. the last time i had skates on, it was in Baguio, with my ISM family. i've also tried ice skating, but only once in my entire life, and that's it.

two weeks ago, hubby je bought me a complete rollerblading gear... inline blades, helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards. he was asking me if i want a new pair of shorts, but i begged off for now. i would rather wear jogging pants, so when i fall down, at least i have something between my skin and the asphalt ground.

off we went to seminole park after checking out two other parks. seminole park has a wider trail, for runners, bikers, skaters. the other two had narrower trails, and one even had its trail by a pond. now why would i want to swim with my skates on? hehehe!

the first time my blades touched the hard asphalt, i felt nervous. it has been 5 years since the last time. and even then, i wasn't doing it the right way. je was very patient with me. i know he wants to protect me from injuries, but he lets me be, so i'd learn. fortunately, wala akong semplang. siguro to follow pa yon, pag mabilis na ko. =P

in 30 minutes, i'm gliding slowly. i still don't know how to force a stop, but i do know that when i feel like falling backwards, draw an imaginary heart in front of myself, and bend my knees. never wave my arms frantically by my sides when i feel i'm falling, it only shifts my weight backwards, pulling me down faster.

i just go back and forth a few meters on the trail. several skaters pass me by, and give encouraging smiles. a lady passing by commented, "i see confidence building up there." hehe! and an old man told me "you're doing much better now." so apparently, he's been tracking my progress. =P we also get to chat with a few skaters just getting ready to skate. they gave out helpful tips on how to develop balance and all that.

that's probably one of the things i like about most of the people here. they give you credit for anything you do. if i were back home in pinas, i'm probably the object of ridicule by our kababayans... "antanda-tanda na, nagro-rollerblades pa", or "uuu, ooops, ooops, babagsak na!" when they see me struggle. like what gewi said, walang personalan. but how would you like that compared to the support system i got here?

when i went into swimming lessons with mama, i didn't feel bad, coz she's so much older than i am. so if there's somebody more ridiculed, that was probably her. =P

practice, pratice, and more practice. someday i will cross "Learn to Rollerblade" off my to-do list in life. then off to the next trick.

ps. i forgot to take a pic of myself in full gear... maybe next time. for now, here's a pic of me and hubby je during our company luau picnic at Sheraton Sand Key in Clearwater, FL.