June 7, 2019
Hello ,
Life has been extremely good to me. I've had many dreams come true, including a loving family, good friends, published books, even seeing my book in the Scholastic book flyer!
I had one dream as a child I never expected to realize. I dreamed of performing as an aerialist in the circus.
I'm so excited to tell you that I've been invited to join the Spokane Aerial Performance Troupe!
Three years ago, I started working out at a circus gym. I try to exercise because I spend most of my time during the day sitting at a computer. But never did I imagine I'd be thrilled at the chance to do sit-ups and chin-ups. I'd been a
runner and depended on my legs to do any exercise that needed doing.
Even in the beginning before I built up strength in my upper body, I loved working on the aerial silks more than any physical activity I'd done before. I continued to work out and practice about twice a week, and gained skills I never imagined as a child.
I had dreamed of being a trapeze artist in the circus, and I did take a beginning trapeze class. I liked the silks better, and decided I could only focus on one circus act at a time.
It's been interesting to discover that the mental part of learning climbs and wraps and drops on the silks is as difficult at as the physical. At least for me, at this age when my brain fails me fairly often, and I've always had trouble knowing my right from my left.
Spokane Aerial Performance Arts puts on shows at festivals in the Spokane area, corporate events, conventions and private parties. Members of the troupe perform a variety of acts along with aerial silks. These include
hammock, lyra, trapeze, fire dancing (and flame eating), cyr wheel, acrobatics, stilt walking and clowning.
The gym offers classes for kids, and there is a wide range of ages in the adult classes, as well as a wide range of body types. Here's an example of one of our warm-up exercises. Yes, occasionally, dogs are allowed in the gym.
When I first got the idea to try silks, I was afraid I wouldn't be strong enough. I was afraid the arthritis in my hands would not allow me to grip tightly enough, or that it would be too painful. In my late fifties, I was feeling the
natural affects of aging in my body and wished I'd had this opportunity when I was younger.
I decided I didn't want fear of failure to stop me from trying.
Not one minute is easy. It was especially hard the first year. My muscles ached and I was exhausted. Other aerialists progressed faster than me. I took naps during the day to give me more energy for evening classes. I felt stupid when I couldn't comprehend the moves, or when I did learn them, but couldn't remember a week later.
I celebrated every tiny improvement I made, and I continued to be thrilled at the opportunity to practice on the silks. There's great camaraderie among the aerialists. It's not a competition, but each of us striving to be the best we can be, and supporting one another.
I don't have my sights set on Vegas or the Cirque du Soleil, I just look forward to my next time in the gym. And I'm incredibly grateful for this body I have and the opportunity to use it
in a way that brings me so much joy.
I am also holding out hope that getting more blood to my brain, and stretching the capacity of my gray matter to distinguish left from right, when I'm upside-down, will spark creativity in my writing. If not, maybe the fire-eating would? No matter.
Aerial silks is an unexpected gift in my life, an improbable dream come true.
Apologies! I gave you some bum links last week.
Here's the link for a map and overview of Operation Overload, which went down in history as the D-Day invasion. Yesterday marked the 75th Anniversary.
And I want to hand out a huge thank you to the bloggers over at Intellectual Recreation, who put together a great list of books for young people (and discerning adults) to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day.
"This book is very engaging and well written, and I really enjoyed learning about these remarkable women and their legacy."
You can check out the full list here...
Until next week...
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To find out more about my books, how I help students, teachers, librarians and writers visit my website at www.MaryCronkFarrell.com.
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