My mother used to say an idle mind is a devil's workshop. She loved her proverbs. I remember being quite insulted when she said it to me. ¿Por qué mí? I was an active and fairly industrious child. Maybe she was just being menopausal and disagreeable, as I am now. Age gives you perspective.
Today, my idle mind is wondering what excellent stuff I could be doing if only I was 18 again [not that I would ever want to be 18 again].
This is definitely on the shortlist.
Apparently, you can also do it a little higher off the ground.
This pic from HERE.
I first saw it in Rio, in Ipanaema I think.
Further down the beach, on that rather grey day, other boys were...
But the #1 thing I would like to do if I was 18 again has to be this!
This and more cool shots from HERE.
Or better still, watch it here!
I can't watch parkour without a serious case of envy. Do you think their mothers worry?
And finally...perhaps some of you have already met this fella?
Somehow, I don't think it'd be too easy keeping him in the backyard.
Do you have anything you wish you could learn or do, but feel the time is past?
Oops. Did I forget to mention aerial silk?
Okay...here we go "war and peace" the battle of will over laziness ..... 20 part saga written in shorthand...oh wait...that was one of the things I always wished I learned...darn!
ReplyDeleteI'm sitting here for five minutes trying to think of something and...nothing. Not because there is nothing, but rather because of the problem you cite at the beginning of your post...menopausal mush brain. I'll blurt something out in one of my future comments when it suddenly hits me...much like having a conversation with me.
ReplyDeleteHaha! Surely shorthand is achievable, CSD, even at our venerable age ;)
ReplyDeleteOR, LORI, you might just really have done everything you want to do. God knows you keep extremely busy and always seem to be signing up for new things to learn!
It just amazes me to look back and realize I lived through my teenage years. I tried everything we could dream up.
ReplyDeleteI always wanted to skydive. But now that I have a wrecked back and hip, I don't dare.
ReplyDeleteI've had a fairly adventuresome life - flown in sailplanes (gliders) and two-person power planes, backpacked part of the Pacific Crest Trail (and many other mountain trails), gone parasailing. I even flew on a trapeze 30 feet above the ground - that was a high (pun intended) in my life. Many of those things I did after the age of forty. Sadly, an idiot ran a red light and smashed me to smithereens a number of years ago which put an end to serious backpacking and risk-taking behaviours. But I'd say I've lived a pretty fun life! No regrets here.
Oh, and those boys you thought might be learning to surf? I think they are "skimboarding".
ReplyDeleteI've seen videos of that dog before and I swear he's boneless!
ReplyDeleteI was quite the daredevil as a kid, and I guess I still am. Miraculously, I survived it all and didn't even break any bones. I've done some pretty good stunts, jumping out of the loft of the barn into loose straw, climbing a cliff on our property, sledding down the same cliff in the winter, being run over by my two-year-old filly, doing some event jumping, jumping off a twenty foot cliff into a river we were rafting on in Colorado and other stupid stuff that I've forgotten. If I ever get the chance, I'll gladly para sail, zip line or go scuba diving.
JAN, you've made me very curious. Please do a post.
ReplyDeleteSkimboarding! Thank you, JEAN. Will google that. You have indeed lived an adventurous life! Bugger the idiot that smashed into you and changed that. It was a dream of mine to bungee jump when I was younger but I'm scared too, now that I have a bad back. Cushion has both skydived and bungee jumped. Grrr. You know, somehow I think it would be okay to skydive with a bad back, especially if you're doing a tandem. Worth checking out :)
OMG BUNNY'S MAMA! What a daredevil you were. It makes me dizzy to think of that cliff. Your poor mother must have been a wreck!
Surfing and windsurfing are something I always wanted to learn. My balance isn't what it used to be, so I guess I'll have to take a pass.
ReplyDeleteHi guys, I've done an up bungy and that cured me of ever doing any other sort of bungy jump. I've never had any desire to jump out of a plane but I love flying in them, the smallest being a little 3 seater. I think that because there's just me I prefer doing less risky stuff these days. I'd hate to leave my dogs as orphans just because I need an adrenalin rush!
ReplyDeleteI love Tret, just watching him is an adrenalin rush in itself:)
I'm way behind, no way I'm ever going to catch up ....
Typist:
ReplyDeleteNever in my life has a dog made me feel OLD until now: the Legendary Tret. Oh my. I feel old. This dog can do everything. I bet even cuddle.
My husband keeps telling me that I should stop speaking in the past tense... that possibilities are over... so I shall speak in the present tense here of things I wish to do: read War&Peace again; read more; hike more; make some money of my womanly own in a substantial way; write another book & publish it; be more kind to others; be more kind to myself; save more dogs; help others save more dogs; tell any human being wily and whom I cannot stand to f* off (does that count as being more kind?); and basically be more present each day. Oh, there's more, but I should stop now. I'm so tired of lamenting all the bad mistakes I've made, so that's why I'm answering this way. (I hope that is okay.)
What do you think? Is there hope for me?
Love,
Tootsie's Mom
Me, again, because I'm a spaz. I forgot to answer your question from Tootsie's doggy bed post... we are currently in France! (Meetings for Dachshund Daddy.) Someone so lucky (as I am) should never complain, so I hope that previous comment didn't read as a complaint!
ReplyDeleteAnd I also forgot to write that I LOVE YOUR LIST!
:)
I survived my adolescence and wouldn't go back for anything. There was very little lighthearted playing involved.
ReplyDeleteParkour looks like excellent practice for evading the law. A useful skill in some circles.
The thing we regret is not riding out and doing cross country but now we don't bounce as well as we use to. Oh to be 18 again. Have a terrific Thursday.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
Maybe you can do that skim boarding thing KAREN, which looks a little less strenuous than being on a scary big wave.
ReplyDeleteSUE! Is that really you? Does this mean you're back for real? :) Will drop by later. No, we don't want to orphan our doggies!
Dear TOOTSIE'S MAMA, I think every single one of those things is achievable. DD is right. Stop slacking off and get a move on lady!
That made me laugh JUNE. I guess parkour WOULD be useful for crims. It would also be handy for getting out of a burning house or other dangerous situation fast! Much more useful than tennis or golf if you ask me.
I'm sure you could do cross country MOLLY! Do you mean bike or horse riding?
My feeling is that the time is never past.
ReplyDeleteWell, since I am going to be the big 50 this year, and starting to feel all those years, I would say yes. My brain still wants to do all that stuff, but my body says, You're shitting me?? But, I would never ever want to be 18 again. Maybe 30 would be good. Without small kids.
ReplyDeleteWandering through the mind can be a dangerous thing, Typist. Lol. If I could go back to 18....wait a year to go to college and spend the time with my grandma instead. Wear a bikini, because looking back on it, I wasn't so fat then after all. I'd change my field of study - but I still don't know what else it might be. Honestly, I'd really rather now just be the size I was then and most other ways leave 18 way behind.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I know I'm glad I did do was horseback ride from a very young age. I broke a lot bones over those years but don't regret a minute of it. But if I had waited until full adulthood to try it, I'm sure I would have been too afraid of getting hurt (with good reason!).
ReplyDeleteA couple of things I would like to do, but am too chicken...learn to be a good skier, and to scubadive. Scuba is mainly learning to master your fears so it is still doable, but skiing sounds like too much hurt! I've tried it a bunch of times and just can't let go of the fear enough to learn and progress.
I don't know if this counts, but if I were 18 again, I'd try really hard to get into Vet school.
ReplyDeleteFunny...came here right from Koly's blog today...great minds and all that...so one evening I look across the street and there's 2 college girls setting up their "slackline" between two palm trees...they were there for hours taking turns on the line, with the other one practicing juggling...turns out they were in a circus class at school...
ReplyDeleteI do wish I was young and agile enough to try some of the extreme sports like Parkour...These days my knees & ankles doth protest too much but it looks like so much fun
Well, the only thing Ma can come up with is sky divin' and bungee jumpin', butts she said she tried everything else she wanted to try!
ReplyDeleteAnd, now, she has way too many 'issues' that would prevent her from doin' the divin' and jumpin'....
I loves Tret!! He reminds me of the military doggies of the World Wars that would run though the battle fields...very courageous!
Kisses,
Ruby
You know what they say about Great Minds, don't you Miss Pea?
ReplyDeletethe Mama loves to do this type of stuff. I on the other paw, think she's crazy.
I wish I could learn to play the guitar. And those tight rope walkers are crazy!
ReplyDeleteI expected you to say something like that BARB, the one who skis with a broken toe ;)
ReplyDeleteAhhh....the 30s. The best years, in my opinion, ROXY. Post-adolescence, pre-arthritis.
I hear you SHERRI. Looking back, I wonder why I ever thought I was fat, even 3 years ago. I didn't wear a bikini till I was in my 40s! Can you believe that?
I reckon fear is a large part of it TARYN. Having started capoeira at the grand age of 45, I know that. We can do a lot of stuff. We just have to learn it differently and at a more leisurely pace than the young 'uns! Scuba diving is definitely achievable!
ALTADENAHIKER, yeah that counts! And is imminently doable!
GIZMO, I imagine parkour is like flying, with no ropes and wings. The idea of having that much control over one's body and environment is mind boggling.
RUBY, another wannabe skydiver and bungee jumper LOL. Don't know about the bungee bit but do you remember that very very old woman who did the skydive and wanted to do another? I think it was a birthday present. I don't mean the other one whose knickers came off mid air ;)
Your mama is not crazy for wanting to do those things KOL. She's crazy to spend so much time in the kitchen perfecting recipes for special bikkies for you and Fe! Hah! Gotcha.
KIRBY, go learn the guitar. You can definitely do that unless you're arthritic ;)
my mom would say... rolling stones gather no moss and empty vessels makes the most noise. With 4 girls, she has a gaggle of giggling monkeys.
ReplyDeletei would not want to do parkour.. its still looks dangerously crazy. If u miss a jump...you will hv a pretty smashed head. Very calculated risks.
if i was 18 or maybe 12, i would like to be able to dance properly or maybe do ballet.. LOL!
hey you... age should not keep u from doing things that u want to do. i have seen people in their 60s or 70s doing new things..maybe not parkour.. but new interesting things :p just be safe ye.
I've seen the Parkour dog's video before and he's the coolest! If I could back, I'd learn to play an instrument and be in a band. I wish I could sing but that would never happen, no matter how many years I had to train! My voice is so bad I don't even sing in the shower, to the dogs, or alone in the car.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever seen "Man on Wire"? It's the docudrama that came out a few years ago about Philippe Petit's high-wire walk between the World Trade Center towers in NYC in 1974. It's incredible. I think I sweated through the whole movie.
-c at ddy.
ANNY, your mum and mine must have been related. Another fave was "a stitch in time saves 9". What me, procrastinate? I like learning new things. Right now, I'm learning Espanol :) Dance is something even octogenarians could learn. So what's your excuse?
ReplyDeleteDear CHANDRA, how could your voice be so bad, you can't sing to yourself? Most people who can't sing don't realise they can't sing ;) I just googled PP. He's loco.
Well I'm realllllly pleased you can't be 18 again - you'd be off getting more broken bones and injuries instead of blogging to the masses. Keeping me suitably entertained of course.
ReplyDeleteMmm. Let's see (fess up time) I would like to be able to swim, (can't you know, and I know, it's sad) A mean dog-paddle is about it. It would be low-impact for the arthritic bones ..... yes, yes I'll give some thought to that - thanks T !
ROSE, I can't swim either! Isn't that funny. I can move in the water in some weird way but panic the moment I think it's too deep for me to stand. I've tried so many times. Used to have hydrophobia when I was a child. One of my friends has offered to try teaching me (again). Once I can fit into my bathers (again), that's the plan. Perhaps we should challenge each other? That might be a good incentive :D
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to say when you are not yet 6.maybe I wish I'd had a better start in life. Really I just stopped by to say hello. I've been kind of missing lately...didn't want you to think I don't care or anything! Deccy x
ReplyDeleteI guess I'll have to come back as a little more of a daredevil to accomplish anything like that! Although I have a dog that is...maybe I can channel some of her daredeviling into me!!
ReplyDeleteNo, there’s nothing in that line I’d love to do, just be a little less lazy and a bit more active now. Even dog walking in bad weather is a chore now.
ReplyDeleteWe did what all kids did, sledging, iceskating etc, in winter, swimming and hiking and cycling in summer, that’s about it.
Adventure sports never came into it, they simply weren’t known then.
Ooh, I have that thought often. For me its ballet, or any kind of highly technical dance. I still love to dance when I'm inspired and in the right mood, but I will never be able to touch my ear with my toe while standing (for example) or spin around 12 times without getting dizzy.
ReplyDeleteYes those parkour kids are nutty!
Okay DECCY, that was funny! By human count, you'd be about 40 though. Check for wrinkles.
ReplyDeleteSAGE, but weren't we all devil may care when we were kids? If parkour had been around then, I really think I would have done it. I loved tumbling, hanging and was convinced I could fly (until I leapt off a high bank and hurt myself).
FRIKO, I suspect dog walking in bad weather would be a chore even for a young person.
Thanks for giving me the image of the day KIRSTEN. Touching your toe to your ear hahaha! :D
OMG really? You too? Me too, have to be able to touch the bottom and preferably SEE the bottom. How did you get out of swimming lessons as a child. It was a nightmare for me as the schools I attended were really into it! And I really detest putting my head under.........
ReplyDeleteAnd I even have the perfect place to have a little go and a practice - youngest daughter has a nice sized pool in her garden and I've never been in it - not once!
Wow! Awesome sports! I know you love so much challenger adventures. You are very courageous and fearless too.
ReplyDeleteI am not a sportswoman and an adventurer woman either.
If I were 18 again I wish I could learn to play the piano.
Hope you have a pleasant Sunday!
Abraços e beijos.
Wow! This parkour dog is just awesome, great! There is no fence to keeping him in the backyard for sure.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness you have an adventurous spirit. I'm a chicken. There is nothing dangerous I want to do. EVER.
ReplyDeleteOh heck 'T', I am really really thinking of you.........
ReplyDeleteArchery...it's not easy to do in our part of the country, and I don't have enough space :(
ReplyDeleteI hope you still get to do some of those things, it's never too late. Gee my most thrilling "to do" wish is to milk a cow!
ReplyDelete