Patin

“Neat!” said a walker from the path around the athletic fields. Baseball, racquetball, soccer, and in the middle, a skatepark. I had it to myself that day, looping around the smooth concrete, dodging bars and blocks. “Thanks!” I smiled.

The Ripstik is a goodwill ambassador. Last week I met Alison, about six or so with a scar on her chin, ripping it up on her bike, zipping up and over ramps. Wanted to know why I wasn’t doing the same. I explained that my wave-board doesn’t like ramps. Verticality is not yet my friend, on land anyway.

The week before, a little boy approached me while I was stretching after a session, all big brown almond eyes, maybe five. “What are you doing? What is that?” So we had a little lesson, he and I. Not so easy, with only two wheels and basic Spanish, though I did learn that ‘patin’ (pah-TEEN) means ‘skate.’ (Missed that in high school.) A little later, a few teens walked over, and I let them try. Francisco was all gold chains and low-slung jeans and took to it easily. He also helped the younger ones, so we called him Maestro.

When Sea Change hit #1 on Amazon, I walked to the park for a celebratory skate. After the long trek home, I found out that Dance First was #1 in the Painting category, and #7 in Poetry. I couldn’t process it, and told no one. Brushed my teeth and tucked into the V-berth.

They both eventually bounced down to #2000, but the joy remains. I am number one! Now it’s true. I’ve been struggling with this for decades: making my needs and desires the priority. Setting aside — nay, blocking — others’ demands. I have a backlog of books in me, and one by one I am working on all of them. This patinadora is número uno.

Links to books:

—Sea Change: stories & splashes

—Dance First …ask questions later: poems and paintings

 —Shoulds are for Saints: the true life adventures of Suzy Le Speed