Get ready to be shocked.
There are two things that I am passively working on. I say passively because I really want to be
able to do them, but am not sure I ever will.
Probably if I put in a large amount of effort or work I could probably
gain a respectable amount of skill, but somehow I am not sure that is going to
happen.
I want to learn how to juggle and I want to learn how to do
yoyo tricks.
I know, not really a spectacular ambition. Other people are getting their MBA's and PhD's and I want to be a party
entertainer. When I put it like that, it
does sound pathetic. really pathetic. I
might as well learn how to make balloon animals. (see tomorrow's blog--just
kidding)
I don't think it is really about entertaining. I really can't imagine performing in front of
people. Don't get me wrong, once I get
over the stage fright, I can perform in front of people. It is a weird thing, but I can stand up in
front of a crowd of strangers and make them laugh easier than I can ask
questions to the clerk in a hobby shop.
Rather than be an entertainer, I just want the skill to be
able to do those things. The juggling
came from a Japanese TV show called TV Champion. It is a wonderful show that can make an
interesting contest out of anything (juggling, making ramen, building Lego,
making models, redecorating, and painting to name a few) They had a great juggling contest and I was
hooked. Of course, my high school
girlfriend was also a professional clown and could juggle--and ride a
unicycle--so maybe that was part of it.
The yoyo came from watching my brother do amazing things
with the yoyo. and then watching very young people on YouTube do impossible
things.
I bought the yoyo and can do some very basic tricks with it
(okay, one trick. Thanks to the ball
bearings, I can make it sleep for an incredibly long time) I got the juggling balls for Christmas and
have never managed more than a few revolutions before they come crashing to the
ground and I have to gather them up again.
The instruction booklet recommended practicing over a table to make it
easier to round up the balls. It would
be good advice if they didn't roll off the table.
Not having mastered either of these skills I have considered
giving these things away in my annual donate to family ritual, but have never
managed to do it. Even now, hunting for
the yoyo to take the picture, I was worried that I had given it away. Like most things, I think someday I will do
it. I just wish I knew when that someday
would come.
