Saturday, May 2, 2015

Majorette Ally

In our dreams, we're young and pretty. In reality, not so much. But it's healthy to pursue our dreams anyway, at any age.

From the time I was little, I wanted to twirl a baton. But I was never allowed. Now, I'm old and there's nobody to stop me so I bought one last month. I've been playing with the baton ever since. Twirling is fun and harder than you expect. There are many different moves and they aren't easy.

I've watched every twirling video on YouTube for instruction and pleasure. It probably seems weird that a 57-year old man is learning how to twirl a baton from a 8-year old girl but, hey, that's my life.

I tried to take some pictures but honestly they came out lousy. I don't have much opportunity to shoot outdoors and the lighting was bad. Plus, my photos will never compare to the high quality Michi just exhibited so I'm almost embarrassed to show you these. Focus on the twirling and poses instead of the mediocre photography, okay?

Do you have any childhood dreams you never fulfilled?  There's still time, you know!


 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

42 comments:

  1. Your photos turned out better than mine! Plus you got the boots and legs to really carry it off. I twirled in my regular outfit (which looked weird, you look so much better!) and then promptly hit my hand when I tried to do a spin and catch and now I have a massive bump on the bone. When I was 8 and did that nothing got hurt.

    I'm not giving up yet though : ) There are some moves that aren't so dangerous that I can still do pretty well. Even when I was 8 I couldn't always catch it when I would spin, so it's not a surprise that after 40 years that hasn't improved.

    These photos made me smile!

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. And your story makes me smile. I'm sorry you hurt yourself but I'm *thrilled* that you're twirling again. Re-capturing youthful joy is great fun.

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  2. My mom was a majorette! I learned how to twirl a baton early on. Not well, mind you. You look like you're having the best time. <3

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    1. Really?! Okay then, next time we meet I'm bringing my baton and will insist you teach me some tricks. Baton tricks, that is... :-)

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  3. Kids can teach us stuff no older person ever can. That's the beauty of childhood.

    I used to want to twirl, but I am massively uncoordinated and now have arthritic wrists before 25. So my twirling days are out.

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    1. Okay, but there are other activities you can do. Find something fun and your enthusiasm will carry you forward. Tap dance?

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  4. You're 57? What do you use on your skin??

    We're almost the same age, so let's relive our high school daze and learn a twirling routine to the Rolling Stones' "Bitch"!

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    1. Yes, let's! Indeed, I am 57 and have the driver's license to prove it. I moisturize, moisturize and moisturize. Normally cheap Vaseline Aloe Soothe but a friend (Christine) works at L'Occitane and she recently gave me their expensive skin treatment program which has worked wonderfully.

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  5. Yay! This makes me smile so much Ally! Playing, having fun and learning something new is what life is all about :) Keep twirling :)

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    1. Absolutely. It's the key to life, especially in middle age when we slow down and get sad from our physical decline. Perhaps I should write a book encouraging this.

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  6. I used to love doing cake decorating and flower arranging, but haven't done it in a long time. you look so happy. I might try something i haven't done in a long time and blog about it. But can't do baking our oven exploded tonight..

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    1. Oh, no! Hope nobody got hurt. That sounds scary. Dale, you certainly should "try something [you] haven't done in a long time and blog about it" -- that's the most reliable way to have fun I know of!

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    2. https://instagram.com/p/2Ng2pLDi0R/?taken-by=lockedloadedandcaffeinated Here is the pic of the microwave.

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  7. This is very cute Ally!!! You look great! X

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  8. I always wanted to be a majorette too. I DID get a baton for one of my birthdays and was thrilled, even though it was a very inexpensive one.One day, my brother Chuck jammed it between the mattress and foot board of his bed to use as a stick shift while driving his "car". Bent it all to hell. So much for THAT dream. I also dreamed of being a cowgirl. At 67 (68 in July), I'm fulfilling THAT dream by taking riding lessons. I have been on lots of horses but never really learned to ride "properly". I took my first lesson last week with a GREAT instructor. What a blast! Sorry for this long comment...it should really be an entry on my own blog page. Twirl on!

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    1. Thanks for the great comment! Good for you taking riding lessons. That's as much fun as riding a motorcycle -- except the thing you're on has a mind of its own!

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  9. Here in Texas, twirling is a SERIOUS thing! Every little girl takes dance or twirling lessons and you go to jr high to become a cheerleader if you're very rich OR a twirler if you're kind of rich. They don't teach you how to twirl when you get to school, you better already know. I missed to boat on twirling lessons, so I was a flag girl.

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    1. It's not too late to learn! I'm older than you. :)

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  10. Replies
    1. Like I said, I have been studying! The poses and costumes are as much fun as the actual twirling. I'd love to buy a real costume but I doubt they have any in my (huge) size. #mylife

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  11. I like the outside pics! Natural light is the best!

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    1. Thank you. I really want to take more pictures outdoors but am shy. These were in my backyard and I worry about neighbors poking their noses in and wondering why I'm wearing women's clothing...

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  12. I think it's important to stay a child inside :) and follow your dreams :D she looks really happy !

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  13. So cute! You remind me of Wonder Woman a little :) So glad to see you fulfilling another of your dreams!

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    1. It's no "wonder" -- those are my Wonder Woman boots!

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  14. These pictures are so cute - and you look like you're having so much fun, that makes me smile!!

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  15. Go Ally ! that smile is so rewarding - you make me smile.
    I am working on one of my dreams… becoming a teacher.

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  16. Go, Ally, Go! You look gorgeous and joyful, and that makes me happy. I found some old drawing supplies from college when I was unpacking the other day and I am going to attempt to start drawing again. I'm not that good, but it makes me happy! It's great fun to try new things or pursue the things that make us truly happy. It fills me with joy that you are finally attempting something you have wanted to do for so long!

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  17. I love that you are learning how to twirl a baton now! I decided last year that I should try playing basketballs (with no knowledge or skill in the sport) and now I play it a few times a week...it has completely changed my life! It is so humbling and empowering to learn something new as an adult! Hooray for expanding the mind and life experiences!

    xx,

    Paisley

    www.paisleynotplaid.com

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    1. I agree! Good for you, Paisley. Basketball is great fun.

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  18. my sister was in the color guard way back in high school and used to have to twirl the rifle. it looked so fun and she made it seem so easy! i think the baton would be similar. have fun (and how could you not with those super cute boots!!)!

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  19. I think its awesome that you pursue your dreams from your childhood and the pictures are fun so there is no need to excuse :).
    I always wanted to play the violin when I was a child but we could not afford it. I dont know if maybe one day I will pursue this dream.
    xx
    http://cenestquedelachance.blogspot.de/

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    1. Rent one and take lessons! Or buy a cheap used violin and just play around with it. The trick is to take a first step; then your natural enthusiasm will propel you forward.

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  20. What a cool majorette !!! Loved your pics :-) I wanted to be a DJ when I was a kid, LOL ! Kisses

    Fashion and Cookies - fashion blog

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  21. That's all kinds of fabulous, Ally! You look the majorette part to a tee and I can tell what a blast you're having with this experience. Way to go on pursuing this dream. As always, you're such a great inspiration to all of us!

    ♥ Jessica

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  22. Reading this post and seeing the pictures is absolute glee for me!!! You go with your baton, Wonder Woman! Seeing you pursue long-held childhood dreams no matter how hard anyone tried to squash them out of you before is so empowering - for you and for everyone who reads about it.

    You are so funny the way you word things too. You always say you're old, though, when actually you have the youngest and sweetest spirit ever.

    You already know this, but I'm gonna keep pursuing my forever-long dream of singing. Dive bars and coffee shops, here I come!!!

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  23. My Grandson twirled a Flag in Honor Guard this year and even though he's Amazingly Musically inclined, he enjoyed it far more than even playing the myriad of Instruments he self-taught himself to play. Those flags were huge, heavy and quite a bit harder to twirl than one might imagine... it made me weep to watch their Performance... and they placed 11th in State Finals which gave me a big snotty sobfest of Joy! *Smiles* I'm glad you got the baton and are fulfilling a Childhood Dream. Childhood Dream semi-fulfilled... Mom liked to tell of when I was about two and wanted muscles like Steve Reeves playing Hercules! *LOL* I was scrawny... and a Girl... so I never quite fulfilled it, but now my biceps rival The Son's and I'm quite Strong for a Great-Gramma, so that kinda counts, No? *Winks* Dawn... The Bohemian

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  24. I always wanted to dance on pointe in ballet shoes. The closest I've gotten is dancing in flat ballet shoes. I loved it, and I'm glad to see you're getting to try out something you've always wanted to do. Also, those boots are amazeballs.

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  25. i did baton for years! i still remember the moves! i was on the flag corp in HS and remember our old fight song routine, 20 years later

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  26. How much do I love your Wonder Woman boots?? THIS much!

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