I am watching the women’s gymnastics all-around competition… I always have mixed feelings when I watch gymnastics. I always get excited. I always get nervous. I always get melancholy. And I always get motivated.
I was a gymnast. It started when I was 20 months old and my mom found me hanging upside, from my knees, in my closet. Then a trip to a University of Utah gymnastics meet started me saying “‘Nastics for Tatie. ‘Nastics for Tatie.” Then, after I failed to outgrow asking for ‘nastics, I began attending Fit Kids at age four. Then I was on team at age six. Then… things went well.
Until I was 11 and I started having aches and pains that never went away. As a gymnast you deal with a multitude of little pains and bruises, and you get to know your body very well. So, when new pains start, and when new pains don’t go away, you notice. I was in sixth grade and I was missing school to identify the cause of pains my doctors deemed more fitting of a 45 year old retired football player. By eighth grade I was so exhausted I slept for the bulk of my Christmas break… and still went back to school exhausted.
And now I am too exhausted for more tonight. I am off to bed. And so is my compy.
Way to go Nastia & Shawn!
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