we should learn how to handspring

My 2006 list of skills to acquire just got one longer. Kewl.

Although I took voice lessons, I was merely okay. Then I had a bad voice loss, and now I'm a vocal klutz. It's quite appalling.

I cannot dance. This has not stopped me from many humiliating attempts at learning. I still occasionally, wistfully, pathetically long to learn how.

My limbs, they mock me.

And yet we can jump...yeah, I got nothing. I don't see why bone density would stop someone from having swimming lessons or developing basic competency. It totally has to be socialised at that point.

And does the density really translate to that much difference in the water?

In my kid-teaching experience, high density (be it bone or muscle or whatever) makes it harder to LEARN to swim. Initially you get kids in the water and want them to feel comfortable there (urban/suburban split comes in big time, if its the first or second time a kid has been in a pool...). Then you have them blow bubbles. Then you have them hold onto the edge and kick. Then kick and blow bubbles... all these things are easier (and less scary) if you are naturally bouyant.

Once you can kick and breathe the bouyancy matters much less.

High school play choruses! Brigadoon, Oklahoma, I dropped out of Sound of Music 'cause it bored me. I'd get hunted down if I didn't audition, because I was the only one who could hit the notes cleanly and reach the back row without a microphone. I was not, however, in good enough with the drama people get a lead role, so I contented myself with outsinging them.

Also, I sucked at the dancing.

all these things are easier (and less scary) if you are naturally bouyant.

I know I've been able to swim since shortly after I was able to walk, so I have little perspective. But I can't imagine how ducking your face into the water is affected by your buoyancy. It seems weird.

Before I'm ready to do handsprings, I've got to relearn arches.

Last night during class we did handstands. It was fun!

OK, my dad's flight did not need to take off early. Poor man will have an even longer wait at the airport.

This one time? In voice class at drama school?

I was such a little nebbishy no-talent acting student, my full-octave opening two notes for "I Wish You Love" blew everybody's hair back. I couldn't reach past mid-house with my speaking voice, but I blew the roof off in lower register with my singing voice. I shoulda done something with it.

But I did something else instead.

Arts and craftsy, huh? Most of that would have been learned from my grandparents or girl scouts. Girl scouts would have been lanyards, godseyes, dreamcatchers, and friendship trinkets (beads, bracelets, whathaveyou) Grandparents ceramics, crochet, knit, sew, cross stitch, that thing with the plastic grid you sew yarn into, and while it may not be crafty, it's not as sporty- build anything from a tree house to a racoon trap.

Oooh fishing! I learned to fish really young, even the baiting and casting. A little later on I learned the cleaning, to my mother's complete horror.

Little DJ: I gutted and cleaned a fish!
Mother: (horrified) OH MY GOD!
Little DJ: @@ It's ok mom. They don't hurt you. They just go like this...(makes fish cheeks and bulgy eyes while gasping for air)

My reenactment did not soothe her.

ball skills - I fake it . no depth perception, so I do not get invovled in any of the local ball games no roller skateing. I did play the flute. can't now.

never could sign , but I do it all the time

cooking - I started learing at age 11 or 12.

driving - learned at 16, but didn't do it til I was 21.