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.
