Summer brings out amazing talents

Herald staff writer

ATHLETIC TOWN, USA — Summer brings an undeniable urge to do something out of the ordinary and just short of amazing.

For some people, their feat is surfing (on two feet!), or skydiving (with no hands!) or bungee jumping (No feet! No hands!).

But for me, the feat is much more amazing.

Cartwheels.

For years I was convinced that either you can do ‘em or you can’t — and I was in the latter 20 percent of the population. With jealous eyes I watched the other kids as they turned their bodies into human wheels. Their hands and feet became spokes. Their success trampled over my heart.

It wasn’t until high school that I was able to do my very first cartwheel. It was a random attempt that led to lasting success. From then on, I had the innate ability to do cartwheels.

If only the kids I went to school with could see me now, they would wonder why a 24-year-old is wasting time on such ridiculous antics.

Now, the worst part of not having a lawn is, you guessed it — no cartwheels.

Good thing my parents have ample training space, where I can wheel around without shame on the grassy lawn in their secluded cul de sac.

Whenever I visit, I am tempted to stand on one end of their large lawn, get a running start going and make my feet and head swap places for a split second. At the end of it all, hopefully I am standing triumphantly on my feet.

It’s us late bloomers who have more fun, because we didn’t use our spirit up at a young age.

Of course, I have no solid evidence to prove my theory. But when you feel a slight breeze next to you as I spin by, you’ll know what I mean.

Find your out of the ordinary and just short of amazing activity this summer. Even if your kids, your neighbors and your neighbor’s dog laugh at you, you’ll be glad you did.

Chrystal Doucette is Health and Education Reporter for the Columbia Basin Herald. She is proof that anyone can defy gravity if they just put their best foot forward.