bonnaroo 06 899.mov

Hi Hoopers! It's been about three years and I'm probably the loneliest hooper I know... but not for long.

The first time I ever saw hoop dancing was at Bonnaroo. It was so awesome. Me and my beau were walking from one stage to the next and this girl just randomly asked if we wanted to watch her hoop. I had my camcorder handy and asked if I could film her not really knowing what to expect. And like a firecracker, she went off. I saw the hoop travel up and down her body from one limb to the other, gracefully and magical. Whoever you are you, thank you for randomly being a moment I will treasure forever. You inspired me with your magical portal, and invited me into a world that is probably the best thing that anyone could have randomly shared with anyone. *Hint-hint* That includes all of you folks out there in Hoopland. ;)

I bumped into her again the next day and she invited me to try. She gave me a couple of pointers, but my "body did not understand." She referred me to www.SpiralHoopDance.com (Talk about having a field day on the internet after seeing that!)

After that weekend, back home in Miami, my beau went to a Phil Lesh & Friends show. I was unable to go due to work but what do you know... he came back with the most amazing gift. My very first hula-hoop! No matter how many times the hoop whacked me in the face, elbows, shins, etc. I know "her" intentions are good. In fact, every time I would take my hoop for a spin, it was that much more rewarding to discover that my physical body was developing, responding & understanding what my mind wanted to recreate while hooping.

In my experience, since I'm learning to attract the things I desire in my life, go figure... I've come across several Hooping Heroes. I got to give it up to Safire, because she had me mesmerized via YouTube, including Spiral, Hoopalicious, Sharna Rose & many other hooplicious chix; Cristabel Zamor aka Hoop Girl; the ladies (& gents) of Hoopnotica, etc. Especially YOU, you RaNdoM Bonarroo Fairy!

Thank you, thank you, and thank you again. I'm grateful & I've been humbled by how open and willing these people are in sharing their passion for the love of spin. Seriously... journals are meant for venting, and I'm excited to share the details of my hooping journey, just as much as I love peering into the lives of others.

"Other people's lives, are more interesting cuz they're not mine..." -Modest Mouse.

Well, I have a job, in other words, I'm Just abOut Broke.

I got a little Wish List I'm working on: Definitely includes getting myself a camcorder, iPod, & wireless head phones. I think I sold practically everything I had of value to bring in some extra cash when I needed it most.

How is this relevant you ask... I'm just about to get to that.

So time flies... and I have my two dogs to thank in particular for contributing to my hoop dancing practice. Every time I would take my pups out to do their business, I would bring my hoop to the back yard, along with my iPod (still got my heart set on some wireless headphones, whenever I come up in the world, but I'm cool with what I got for now). So, 15 minutes would turn into an hour... two... three hours or more! I couldn't believe it; but I'm sure you all do.

So again, thank you Jazzy-Belle & Sensi-Bello. By the way, have any of you ever heard stories about dogs rescuing their owners? Well, I'm in that batch. My dog saved my life. If it wasn't for her, I would have been robbed, beaten or left for dead. If anyone is interested, that's probably my favorite of all stories to share. I love my dogs, and even though Jazzy-Belle likes to jump thru the hoop every now & then, when she's not lazy, I'm sure hooping with other hoopers is a whole other level of fulfillment. Ha! Just a preview for other journal entries in the making...

So stay tuned for the whacky adventures of WhirlWind.