Elbow, Elbow, Wrist, Wrist and Smile

I am a rower again...
I say this because I have spent the last two nights in the boathouse sanding down, buffing and priming brand new beautiful blades.

Most of the girls on the team are new to rowing and maybe there is a couple of returning that have rowed for a year. They are all babies….and then there is me.

I could hear the Captain talk to another girl trying to figure out how to paint these new blades. Then she looks over doe eyed and asked, “Have you ever done blades before?”

Well… yes tons…..in my day novices are made to paint the new blades for the varsity team. But here that would not be a wise move.

I pause and take a deep breath for I am about to enter the world of a die hard “Boatie” again.

“Yeah I guess I can help…but I mean you guys might sand and paint backwards over here.”

I start getting them all set up and it is nice to be helpful and have people so happy for your mere existence. It was nice.

As we practice I help the others along….the amount of hours I spent on the erg machine and on the water and the time coaches spent on me, coaching these girl is the least I can do.

Others have asked do I mind being in a boat filled with green girls….and I say “NO way”. I am new to rowing in Cambridge UK and I love seeing rowing through their eyes. The excitement, the newness, their first race.

This role as boat veteran suits me fine. It is like I have a bunch of little girls that want to be in a pageant and I used to be Miss America. The look to me excitedly with their questions and I just keep saying….”Girls, Remember to Smile and Say World Peace.”