I turned 44 last August and I wasn’t too happy about it. Forty four. It had an omnious ring to it–one step closer to “middle age.” I was feeling pretty much like my best years were behind me and I reflected on the years past. Why-oh-why didn’t I appreciate my youth when I had it? Why didn’t I enjoy my size-10 figure when I had it? Why didn’t I run away to Florida and apply for a job as a show skier at Cypress Gardens when I was nineteen?
Fast forward to fall of 2009, and the hubby sent me an email with a link to Judy Myers, the 66-year-old gal who was featured in a Subway video, Fit to Boom and on the Today show. The videos aren’t captioned, but go take a look. That’s right, that 66-year-old is skimming along the water on her bare feet. She looks pretty darn good, doesn’t she?
That video got me all fired up. If a 66-year-old can barefoot, then I surely can do it again. Heck, Banana George didn’t retire from barefooting until he was in his 90’s!
So I decided that 2010 was going to be the year of getting back on my feet on top of the water. That’s right, I’m going barefooting again. I got in touch with Judy Myers and we started chatting back and forth via Facebook. She will be in Florida in the spring and I’m going to join her for a day of barefooting in March.
The last time I barefooted was about ten years ago– I lasted about one minute on the water. I attempted to barefoot last summer but sank in both times. So the last time I was really in shape and able to skim on the water was about 20 years ago.
Last week, I had a dream, and in the dream, I did a deep-water start with my legs wrapped around the rope– skimmed on top of the water on my butt and got up barefooting. The last time I did that was in 1984.
Stay tuned to the end of March to see if I can do that again.
Comments
5 responses to “Deaf Mom’s Goal for 2010–Yes, I’m Gonna Barefoot Again.”
One of the things I have always admired about you, is that when you put your mind to doing something, it gets DONE! You are inspirational!!
let the barefooting begin! can’t wait for the 2010 version of this pic!
I’m impressed! Keep us informed. And celebrate when you do it!
You can go barefoot and ski. Go for it. We often cut ourselves short from great adventures. When you do, Karen, be sure to give us an update, okay?
Enjoy the barefooting!!!
As a mother of 2 girls with moderate hearing loss and former barefooter I really related to your story! Thank you so much for sharing it. I retired from barefooting at 19 with a torn muscle in my neck, and am currently pregnant with our 3rd, so barefooting will have to wait a little for me…