First of all, doesn't that sound like the title to an amazing movie based on murderous, possibly zombie cheerleaders -- kind of like R.L. Stine's seminal classic saga "Fear Street Cheerleaders?" It does. Also, I would totally see that saga -- Ari Golds of the world, get on it!
Anyway, as you guys know, this weekend I went to a cheerleading competition in order to face one of my fears. Let me just tell you, this competition was AMAZING. These girls were young, bouncy, shiny, sparkly, and athletic. I have never felt so old - well, except for that one time my law school roommates and I called the cops on our neighbors for having a party...on a Friday night...in the summer (yes, we are AWESOME and ADULT, I know, thanks).
So I got to the competition and battled my way through throngs of tiny cheerleaders in oversized bows and GAGA makeup. And I proceeded to watch about 30 minutes of the competition before I even attempted to call my coach. Seriously, I was so nerdy. I was legit nervous to call him - as if he were a guy I was asking out on a date. SO LAME.
After hemming and hawing for a while, the cheer gods helped me out and I spotted Ernie in the crowd - and then awkwardly did NOT go up and say Hi. Yep, I continued to stand alone. LAME.
Finally, though, I mustered up my courage and went to talk to him....and it was awesome. We talked all day. He asked about my life and what I'd been up to since leaving his charge at age 18, he wanted my advice on his plans for the future, he talked to my mom on the phone and he bragged to his new cheerleaders about my successes...it was like hanging out with a really good friend. And that night, when I left, he told me he was so happy to see me.
Needless to say, I pretty much floated out of that competition. It was SO, SO nice to have a day like that with someone that I pretty much revered throughout all of my teenage years.
This post seems pretty self-indulgent, so to make it fit the theme, here's my takeaway: it's fine to put some people on a pedestal, just make sure the pedestal's not too high, for if it's so high that they become unreachable you can't have a relationship with them....and isn't that the point?
Anyway, as you guys know, this weekend I went to a cheerleading competition in order to face one of my fears. Let me just tell you, this competition was AMAZING. These girls were young, bouncy, shiny, sparkly, and athletic. I have never felt so old - well, except for that one time my law school roommates and I called the cops on our neighbors for having a party...on a Friday night...in the summer (yes, we are AWESOME and ADULT, I know, thanks).
So I got to the competition and battled my way through throngs of tiny cheerleaders in oversized bows and GAGA makeup. And I proceeded to watch about 30 minutes of the competition before I even attempted to call my coach. Seriously, I was so nerdy. I was legit nervous to call him - as if he were a guy I was asking out on a date. SO LAME.
After hemming and hawing for a while, the cheer gods helped me out and I spotted Ernie in the crowd - and then awkwardly did NOT go up and say Hi. Yep, I continued to stand alone. LAME.
Finally, though, I mustered up my courage and went to talk to him....and it was awesome. We talked all day. He asked about my life and what I'd been up to since leaving his charge at age 18, he wanted my advice on his plans for the future, he talked to my mom on the phone and he bragged to his new cheerleaders about my successes...it was like hanging out with a really good friend. And that night, when I left, he told me he was so happy to see me.
Needless to say, I pretty much floated out of that competition. It was SO, SO nice to have a day like that with someone that I pretty much revered throughout all of my teenage years.
This post seems pretty self-indulgent, so to make it fit the theme, here's my takeaway: it's fine to put some people on a pedestal, just make sure the pedestal's not too high, for if it's so high that they become unreachable you can't have a relationship with them....and isn't that the point?
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