Ageless Passions by Karen Putz

Tag: florida

  • Sometimes You Just Need To Get Away

    This winter was getting to me. While I enjoyed the glistening white of freshly-fallen snow on most days, the cold was finding its way deep into my bones.

    I was struggling to write each day. The flow had stopped. I was way out of “the zone.” Despite having three books to create, I couldn’t find the words nor the enthusiasm to bring them to life. The winter blues had arrived and I was just slogging through the days waiting for the change of seasons.

    There were a few bright moments of enthused writing, especially the story from NFL player Derrick Coleman’s mom and my article on Banana George for WaterSki magazine. I also created a writing journal inspired by my favorite quotes: In Pursuit of Passion.

    Yesterday, I arrived in Florida with my mom, sister and niece to spend a week at the beach. We were pretty tired when we finally settled in. I decided to take a quick walk on the beach before the sun went down. The shift in energy was measurable. The moment I placed my feet on the sand I could feel the heaviness of winter escape me.

    Sometimes you just need to get away.

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  • A Test of Patience

    Wednesday night, before heading to bed, I checked my flight schedule for Florida. “The plane leaves at 7:25,” I told Joe. I sank into bed early knowing that I’d have to get up at four a.m. to get ready. A nagging feeling crept up on me. I wanted to go downstairs and check the schedule one more time, but I was exhausted after two days on the road and three presentations.

    On the way to the airport, the nagging feeling returned. I took a look at the schedule and right then and there, my heart sank.

    6:10.

    I was looking at the landing time previously, not the flight time. I was going to miss my plane.

    “We’ll, there’s nothing I can do about it,” I told my husband. “I’ll just have to take the next available flight.”

    I was scheduled to speak at the Florida School for the Deaf at 2:15, but I wasn’t sure if I would make it there on time. The school informed me that the latest I could arrive would be 3 p.m.

    The Southwest agent gave me standby on a flight leaving in 20 minutes, but I had yet to get through security. I made it just before they were closing the doors. I picked up a connecting flight after arriving in Fort Lauderdale. I figured I would make it to the school

    As soon as I arrived at the rental car place, I was congratulating myself. There was no line! I figured I would arrive at 2:30. As I reached into my purse, my heart sank; my wallet was nowhere to be found.

    My cell phone rang and a kind traveler nearby answered it for me. It was Southwest– they were on their way with my wallet. I’m a frequent flyer with Southwest and they simply rock!

    There was a line when I arrived back at the rental car counter and by the time I hit the expressway, I knew I was cutting it close. I threw up a prayer and stepped on the gas.

    In the passing lane, I encountered one slow car after another. I couldn’t believe it. Almost no one moved over. I could feel the frustration building up inside of me.

    A digital sign indicted a stalled car ahead. Sure enough, the traffic crawled to a stop.

    I wanted to scream.

    Suddenly, I remembered one of Keith St. Onge’s lessons from his book, Gliding Soles. Whenever he encountered red traffic lights when in a hurry, he considered them as a test of patience.

    “Ok, God, bring it on, I can do this. No matter what happens on the road, I’m staying positive.”

    As soon as I got off the highway, I encountered more slow drivers and… You guessed it… red lights. Over and over, I stayed positive and envisioned myself arriving in time to speak to the middle school kids.

    The guard at the gate took a long time to process my information and print out a pass. Another test of patience, but I was determined to pass it with flying colors and a smile on my face. I walked into the building at…

    2:59.

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  • Facing a Fear of Alligators

    At five o’clock this morning I woke up drenched in sweat. The open jaws of a very large alligator startled me awake.

    It’s not the first time I’ve had that kind of dream. Here’s how they started:

    Alligator Dreams

    You’ll note that this was written back in November of 2010. For awhile there I was doing great. Then one morning last year, Joann O’Connor and I were walking from the guest house to the ski school and we encountered an alligator lounging in the grass. My heart pretty much leapt out of my chest. I was just glad I wasn’t alone.  My first instinct was to run, but then I remembered a little tidbit I had read somewhere on the web– that alligators can run as fast as 35 mph (not true as I later found out, it’s more like 8 or 9 mph–huge difference!).

    To top it off, last fall, I barefoot water skied right by what I can only assume was a very large alligator, judging by the ripples left on the water as I skied by. The boat crew confirmed it.

    So for all the bravado I declared back in 2010, I’ve discovered that the fear of alligators is not something I can merely outrun in my mind. There’s no way to control the dreams except after they’ve occurred, and by then, I wake up in a cold sweat and can’t go back to sleep for a long while, even after mentally changing the end of the dream.

    Several people have suggested that I face the fears head on by petting an alligator or even wrestling one under supervision. I don’t think that will do anything to alleviate the fears, because the fear stems from the idea of being attacked in the water, and that’s beyond my control.

    So unless someone has a solution for me, I’m going to invest stock in a company that develops alligator repellent.

  • Judy Myers Inspires Deaf Mom

    Judy Myers is my new idol.  This “Old Lady” is my new inspiration each day, because she’s got me all fired up about barefooting again.  Here I was last year, all sad and feeling like my best years were behind me– and then I learned about this 66-year-old gal who was skimming along the water like a spring chicken.  So I’m heading down to Florida in the spring to meet Judy and try my hand at barefooting again.

    Judy took a little time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions and share some photos of her barefooting.  Enjoy!

    Judy with her biggest fan and supporter, husband Casey

    You started waterskiing at the age of 53 – tell me what it was like.

    Actually I was 48 when I started waterskiing. We had gotten out of Dune Buggies and decided to buy a boat (A big boat with a giant wake). We invited friends to come out for the day and they use to water ski when they were younger so decided to bring along their old (wooden) skis. We had a ball but the next day we were so sore even our hair hurt!! I was hooked. I have always been around or on the water and really liked sports so this was perfect for me. I attend clinics, ski schools and skied a lot. I became a good recreational slalom skier and really enjoyed it.

    How did you get into barefooting? How old were you? What was that first experience like?

    I was 53 and went with a group of girls to “The River” (meaning the Colorado River in Yuma AZ). One of the girls (much younger than I) barefooted and decided we should all try it. The first gal scooted out on the boom and immediately flew off ripping off her barefoot suit and losing her bathing suit top in the process, the second girl did pretty much the same thing but first managed to hang on long enough to almost beat herself to death. It was my turn and after watching what went on before me I almost changed my mind thinking I was much too old for this. I told them they had one chance and that was it. I scooted out, put my feet on the water and again was hooked on a new sport – BAREFOOTING! What a rush to be actually walking on water! That moment literally changed my life!!

    How did your barefooting evolve over the years? How did you get into competing? What was your first competition like?

    My barefooting started out as just being a recreational sport and has gone from that to I now work at World Barefoot Center with Keith St. Onge and David Small each spring. While there I do the office work and lunches but the reward is I get to ski every day with two of the nicest and best in barefooting in addition to “Swampy” Keith’s coach.

    When I first started skiing I went to FL for lessons as being an “old” Physical Education teacher I wanted to learn the proper way and save myself injury. I went to Ron Scarpa’s and it was Ron who convinced me to compete because of my age. It was here I also picked up the name “Old Lady”. Women tend to leave barefooting for various reasons and we felt it may help women realize they could stay in the sport, compete and have fun. After all that is what life is about – having fun and enjoying it to the fullest.

    My first competition was in 1999 at the Western Regional’s at Cheyenne Lake in New Berry Springs CA. I did not have a clue about skiing a tournament and what one even had to do. When I arrived the skiers took me under their wing and went out of their way to get me ready!! They realized I needed to score a specific number of points in order to go to Nationals so while waiting for my turn were teaching me things I could try. Dawn Farrell was awesome as was Gina McKee and then my slalom mentor Theresa Hoffman. I had never even attempted to cross the wake before then and Theresa made sure I was going to succeed!

    Needless to say with their support I managed to do what I needed to do in order to move on.

    Since putting my feet on the water for the first time and falling in love with the sport, I have skied all over the country, made friends all over the world, skied as an independent in the 2003 Worlds, been honored with the Western Region Barefooter of the Year award, had various magazine articles published about me, was in the MSNBC “Fit TO Boom” video, been on the “Today” show and the highest honor of them all was to win the 2009 “Banana George Blair Award for Barefooter of the Year. What an honor! I was speechless and those that know me know that is next to impossible!

    What is a typical day of training like?

    Usually we get up very early, do some stretching and go out and ski a couple of sets in the morning and again in the afternoon along with dryland practice. When I am at the World Barefoot Center with KSO and Swampy they work with me trying to improve my abilities (I tell KSO I am his project). I will say age has a little drawback here as it does take me longer to “get it” but I am willing to try and give it my all. I have had a few set backs this past couple of years – torn hamstring and then knee surgery but I am working hard in the off season to get in shape and am getting ready for the up and coming “Spring Training”.

    How has barefooting changed your life?

    Barefooting has made me realize that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. It has helped keep this 66 year old woman – soon to be 67 – young in heart and spirit and has made me keep myself in good shape and strong. I cannot imagine my life without this!

    Can you see why I’m fired up and inspired?

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