Better Than a Purple Sash and Tiara

It's hard to believe that Littlest is nearly halfway through her sixteenth year. So much  about her seems to jump from twelve to thirty.  In good ways. Don't misunderstand me! In many ways she is an average teenage girl. She likes clothes. Cares about her hair and make-up. Listens to music. She has a boyfriend and likes to hang out with her...well... her one female friend she can abide. She has posters on the walls of her room....Marine Corp recruiting posters...not pop stars or kittens but.....posters anyway....

Three times a week, more if she is off from school, she walks in to a cinder block building with no heat or air and spars with grown men twice her size. Or the one woman who is a black belt and occasionally comes in. She revels in it. She is thrilled with her power and intimidated by nothing. She takes her lumps and savors them as a learning experience. Her eyes glitter with delight at what she accomplishes. She was in her first  Brazilian Jiu Jitsu match recently. It was just a small one but she did very well.  When we first walk in a guy from her class comes up grinning, tells her, "I feel sorry for whoever gets in there with The Technician." Yes. She already has a nickname with her classmates.  There wasn't anyone to evenly match with her. At five foot four and 127lbs. (of pure muscle) the closest to her size was a twenty four year old young man who was ranked one belt higher than her.  I watched, amazed at the fluidity of her movements. Surprised at the beauty of this dance of strength, skill and will. At the end she popped up slightly mussed, but calm cool and collected. Her opponent was red faced and out of breath. His hair standing straight up, his Gi falling off.  It was a draw and they both received a medal. Though when she went to her next class the instructor told her that as far as points went she had actually won.  I think there may have been some saving face for the more experienced student going on. But that is fine. It was her first time out and good practice for a larger tournament this spring.  She is very pleased with herself.

 At home, after the fight she happily carried her medal into her room. Later she came running in the kitchen, jumping up and down and waving her arms around.  Look, she exclaimed, I have a black eye!  Pulling her hair back from her forehead she exhibited a swollen,  deep purple blood vessel on her brow bone oozing  blue stains into her eyelid. I'm bruised, she shouted excitedly, clapping her hands. "I'm injured!" She grinned from ear to ear like she had just won Homecoming Queen.

That's my girl. : )


Moon Music





I'm gonna go find a place to hide from Littlest if she watches this video now.....



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