Perseverance

Did you spend your weekend watching the Gymnastics Olympic Trials? Nope? I did.

Unfortunately, gymnastics is not on the radar of most black folks. I guess it falls in lines of tennis and golf. Expensive as hell. I was lucky. My Mom enrolled me when I was 2 and I didn't quit until 16. Those curves & a knee that would not act right. But over the years I have gone back to teach and test my mettle to see if I could still do the skills. (It's funny I can walk on a 4 inch beam without falling off, but give me land....shit...I will make a mess. 6 concussions for proof.)

I am always excited every 4 years when it is Olympic time. The honor. The skill. The perseverance. The will to be the best. It always gets me.

So this weekend I watched my favorite men and women (really the men are really men but the women are all under 20...) The men's team has been named but it will take a camp to determine the additional women. So excited to see a darker hue in the running. Dominique Dawes was a long time ago.

One of my favorite commericals is of Derek Redmond. A British Track & Field athlete that suffered an injury during a heat. And his father who guranteed he completed the race. That type of love and affirmation is awesome.

This is footage of the race.

This is footage of the commercial.

Video

I love this commercial!!! Partly because I love the song and I have a vivid memory of my Daddy attempting this dance and he can't dance but for his 35 Class Reunion he got his rhythm challenged behind out on the dance floor. I will search for the pics. You have to understand he watches your feet when you dance so if you try to add flavor to the black folks 2step he is in trouble, trouble. Another reason I have a friend who I call Roberto who looks exactly like this kid...maybe he lied?