When I was 13, I was in the eigth grade and that winter, i had a sledding accident that resulted in a broken right ankle. I had dreamed of making the cheerleading squad for two years at our new high school and had been the caption of the pep squad thru junior high, I was a shoe in. I had an amazing v sit jump and lots of team spirit. My cast came off in April and tryouts were in May.
This was 1979 and physical therapy didnt happen for me so despite my peppy spirit and the fact that I choreographed the dance routine, I did not make the freshman squad. My jumps were not up to it. When I got home, My mother showed me the bracelet she had bought me with a megaphone charm at it and said, “well, I guess you don’t get this now.”
I never tried out for cheerleading again, I tried out for the drill team and made it and had a wonderful time that summer at the band camp but always wanted to be a cheerleader not because of the popularity and the fluff, but because I believed in the sport. Years later, I had my kids involved in competition cheerleading in Northern Virginia and my daughter Pam made the Freshman squad and my daughter Laura made the varsity squad.
I have worked hard for the last two years to get well and now with the launch of phyllis4fitness I feel like I have finally earned my megaphone!
Signed,
phyllis4fitness
You know where she can put that megaphone, right?
Not to be negative.
This is a heartening, lovely post about strength and resilience. Three cheers for you.