Saturday, October 7, 2017

Update

If anyone is actually reading these posts, I'll bet you're thinking I abandoned this blog... and figure skating.

Well, that is not the case!

A lot has happened since my last post 2 years ago, so I'll try to condense as best I can.

I did compete in Nationals in Salt Lake City, in 2015, and to my astonishment, I placed 3rd (in a field of 19) in the technical program.  If nothing else, till the day I die, I can say I am a medalist in the Adult National Figure Skating Championships!

I have continued to skate 4-5 days a week, and I added ballet to the mix. Twice a day with a fabulous Russian ballet teacher.

After 2015 Nationals, I decided to take a break from all the competing and focus on my skills.  I managed to pass my Adult Gold Moves in the Field right away,  with no retakes.  That was great. That was pretty awesome.

However, in 2016,  the "clarion called" again (I've been a performer 1/2 of my life), and I was invited back to the Beverly Hills Playhouse Saturday "Master Class".  This was a life-changing commitment, a new direction for me because now I would be working on 2 to 3 scenes at a time, auditioning, and doing everything I could to be a working actress. I also began to focus more seriously on my writing.  I saw no reason why I couldn't do all of this and still skate, but competing wouldn't be so realistic, time wise or budget wise.

But oh, how I missed it.  The competitions, the comraderie, the friendships, the trips, the simple elation of a program well-skated. The constant self-challenge.

I have had 3 wonderful coaches so far, and I had just started with the fabulous Erika Sussman this summer.  The competitive bug bit again and I really really wanted to get back into it.  You see, if you don't compete, it's easy to lose sight of your goals.  We were making great strides, coming up with inventive spin combinations, different jump combos, the beginnings of a new program...

and then

I took a trip to Nashville to see my ailing Mom. It was so sad.  The 2nd night there, my siblings cut loose.   I was dancing to Michael Jackson vinyls with my sisters at 2 am, laughing, having such a great time...and then I decided to do a fancy jump, and I fell. My right foot (my landing foot) rolled under itself, and I came down like a bag of pebbles.

I broke my 5th metatarsal (a "Jones Fracture") and have been in a cast for 5 weeks.  I narrowly avoided surgery,  and for that I am grateful.  But I can't walk or drive or put weight on my right foot.  It's a nasty fracture, slow to heal, and notorious for re-injury.  I am doing everything - acupuncture, vitamins, elevation, an Exogen bone stimulator device, 20 minutes of sunshine a day.

I'm looking forward to getting my cast off in 2-1/2 weeks, and I have my award-winning one woman show, "The Pope of Jocelyn Hollow",  going up at the Beverly Hills Playhouse Nov. 10-12.  Right now,  I just hope to be vertical.

Lots going on!

But at the center of it all is my urgent desire to get back on the ice. It's who I am.

So, that's the latest.

Here's to healing!