late bloomer | onethousandandtwo

It’s day 4 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge. 24 more days to go. I’m counting the days already. It shows that I’m not a planner. I haven’t laid out all the steps. I am a wing-it kind of a girl. I feel overwhelmed every day. You think that would prompt me to change. I hate change but it’s not too late to do it. Like the saying goes, it’s never too late until it’s over. I’ve always been a late bloomer.

I was 8 years old when I came to Canada. I had to start school all over from grade 1. I already had my grade 2 in Hong Kong but I didn’t know any English. The teacher had me stay in at recess to get me started. Her name was Miss Woodall. She had chin length reddish hair which she wore in a page boy. I remember she favoured wearing sweater sets and dirdle skirts. I think that was the style of the day. She used a picture book to teach me English words. I had trouble pronoucing words like roof and detour.

I did catch up one grade, taking grade 2 and 3 the next year. They thought I was smart and had a talent for drawing. When I graduated from high school, I was encouraged to go to university instead of secretarial school. I majored in fine arts and literature. I dropped out after 2 years and went to secretarial school. I worked as a steno for a few years, got bored and went into nursing. Through all my working years I talked about my big dream of being an artist. I had some great art teachers. I basked in the light of being in their classes. Meanwhile I did nothing else to realize my dreams.

I can understand the psychology of it now. It is much safer to talk about it. I can’t fail something I didn’t work on. But after many decades, I realized it was ridiculous to keep up that stupid chatter. In 2016 I finally stopped talking about it. I started making a little art each day for the100dayproject. And the rest is history. And I’m learning from my own history that it is never too late to change or to start something. The clock is ticking for all of us. I do not need it to overwhelm me. I will/can continue to block and blog away for another day.

Learning to Ski

I’m having a hard go at this post. I’m trying too hard and I’m stuck – much like my skiing. But I did make some progress today. It helps to know that there is right and a left ski. Yup, there are when your skis are of the vintage type. So at least today, I got my right boot on the right ski and the left boot on the left one. Getting the binding to clip and unclip is another thing though. I need muscle power or holding my tongue in the perfect position. At any rate, my boots didn’t come off the skis nor did I fall. It’s a big step in the right direction.

I am not all discouraged. I am not a natural at sporting endeavours and I am a late bloomer. I didn’t learn to swim till in my middle aged years. I was absolutely enthused and terrified. It took me a whole summer of trying to just float. I’m pretty good with the front crawl and not bad with the back one. I’m slow though. Another swimmer told me that if she swam as slow as me, she would sink. She wasn’t very nice. I’m good with my speed. I’m the same with the bike, learning late in life. I still don’t feel at home in the saddle. But I am so happy and proud that I could do these two things. They were my most wished for skills when I was a youngster.

So now it is the skis. A perfect timing. The year of Covid-19 and big snow. My skis had been waiting 30 plus years to come out of the closet. I like to overcome physcial challenges. I like doing things that requires effort. I’ve been out only 4 times and I love it already. The first time was in the back alley. I fell down right off. I didn’t think I would like it but after a few runs, I felt the glow. The second time was at the park. It was brutal just getting up onto the tracks. My leg muscles strain and strain. I thought no way. But I was wrong. The 3rd time wasn’t great. My boots keep coming off my skis. Now I know why. I learn and get better at something new each day. Yes, I got the ski bug. There’s lots of room for learning and improving. That’s the hook.

It is glorious to be out in the sunshine and blue skies and to breathe in the fresh November air. It’s wonderous to see the ski tracks around the park. And when we get home, there’s tea and pumpkin chocolate chip muffins.