Tai Chi Swords and More

Tai Chi Swords and More

Once again it has been more than a year since I last wrote.

In April, 2014 I went to Orangeville for a Tai Chi week with 65 people whom I had never met.  It was great.  I sat at a different table at every meal and met new people.   The International Tai Chi Center there is a special, healing place.  I walked around the pond several time (I wore my tee-shirt and felt comfortable while the Canadians wore parkas and thought I was crazy for not being cold – it was 80 degrees in Tampa already so I loved the cool air).  At the time my gallbladder was so bad that I was only able to eat a few tablespoons of food at a time so I was not at my best physically, but I persevered as I usually do.  I am know for my determination (some folks call it stubbornness).

July 6, 2014 I had my gallbladder removed without general anesthesia – only an epidural and a “sedative” (an anti-anxiety medication).  I was back at Tai Chai 3 days later.  By the time I finally found out what was wrong with me and had the surgery, I had lost 30 pounds which was a pretty drastic way to get to a smaller clothing size!

I was also elected to the Board at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa and have also completed planning, preparing, and presenting 5 worship services when our pastor is not in the pulpit.  I enjoy doing it and the folks there say I do a good job.  One person even suggested I study to be a minister but I decided I enjoyed Tai Chi too much to have time to study.

This past weekend, Memorial Day (May 23-25) I participated in a 3-day sword workshop at our new International Taoist Tai Chi Center in Dunedin, FL.  I sucked at it – too much cognitive dysfunction to be able to properly remember and do the moves, but I had fun and I know I can learn it as we practice after class on Monday nights and on Tuesday and Thursday after those classes.  My brain is gradually(?) slowing down but that is OK.  I have learned (and continue to learn) that it is what it is and I can accept that some of the time.  Of course, some of the time I fight myself over it, but that is OK, also.

A few months ago I took Lok Hup (the predecessor to our form of Tai Chi) and at that workshop I was in tears and thought I would never learn it.  Well, I did learn it enough that I can be an end at either end.  I practice it every day to keep it in my mind.  I love it!  I do believe it is my favorite form of Tai Chi  I plan on taking a week-long workshop to learn the second half of Lok Hup Ba Ha in November, knowing going into it that I will not learn it at the workshop but , rather, later after classes.

Directionally Challenged much?  YES!!  I got lost on Sat. afternoon when I left Dunedin on May 23.  I called my husband after wandering around Palm Harbor (the opposite direction from Tampa) and he told me to make my way back to the Tai Chi Center and follow Randy home at 9:30.  I had cried on the phone with him as I hate being lost and I was frightened.  When I got back to the sword workshop I found Randy and told him the plan.  He was, of course, fine with it.  When I had left the center it was pouring cats and dogs like a hurricane with streets flooded and almost zero visibility so I had gotten soaked to the skin.  I was shivering as I sat next to Randy while the other half of the group practiced and he patted my on the knee and told me it was over and I was OK.  Of course I was – I was just cold by that time.  I bought another tee-shirt so I could have something dry to put on.  On Sunday I carpooled with him and he drove.  We knew I would be driving myself on Monday so he went home the way I was to drive on Monday.  Lo and behold, though, on Monday I got lost again and wandered around Clearwater for 45 minutes going back and forth on multiple streets using both a GPS and paper maps trying to find my way out.  The problem was Nuvi was trying to get me to drive over the Causeway Bridge and I knew I would have a difficult time trying to navigate lane changes without following Randy who would put me in the lane I needed to be in safely.  Instead of 45 minutes, it took me 1 ½ hours to get home but I did it on my own and laughed about it.  A big change from being angry or afraid.

So, it has been an eventful year and I am in a good place in my head.  I met many really nice people at the workshop and, for once, did not just hang out with my friends, but mingled with people from other locations.