More Myr Goodness!

[partly]

Back here I shared that Myr made it to state for Forensics. (I should probably explain that, especially in a North American competitive environment, forensics is the art and science of public speaking and has nothing to do with Crime Scene Investigation. It includes everything from reading prose or poetry to giving a speech to debate to radio acting.)

The event was held Friday and Saturday in Madison and Myr was scheduled at 7 pm on Friday in the lovely Education Hall, halfway up Bascom Hill on the UW campus. Bascom Hill is beautiful no matter what time of year it is, but the cool rain/mist that was happening last Friday reminded me the of Halloweens that my friends and I spent running around campus -- in costume and having fun. There are pictures from that time; I will have to dig them up.

She got the day off of school; traveling down with the team in the morning and spending the day around Madison. I had to work until 4:30, and then planned on driving down to see if I could watch her. It was unlikely I'd make it as I tend to be conservative when I drive and the 150 mile trip usually takes 2 1/2 to 3 hours, counting the time needed to drive through Madison.

However, just to prove that I'm a conservative driver by nature and not necessity, I made it down in just over two hours. I will point out that it was raining and that seemed to make everyone else lose their minds. I had planned on hooking up behind some FIB or speeder driving 80 and drafting my way down. Unfortunately the light rain scared everyone into driving considerable less than the posted limit of 65. This meant that I had the unfamiliar task of driving the car that was passing everyone. I have to admit that the rain and associated road spray was bad enough on I90/94, that it was unadvisable to go more than 65, but it was weird anyhow. Of course, by then there were enough big city idiots who think "good driving" means dodging in and out of traffic, cutting people off and tailgating. Usually I don't let stupid driving get to me, but idiot Chicago drivers who don't understand the concept of hydroplaning and fishtail their way in and out of traffic alternating between accelerating and breaking, bothered me that night.

Freeway traffic aside, I pulled into Madison with 10 minutes to spare and dodged my way through the normal capital congestion in good time -- until I hit campus. I never realized how many busses were needed to haul kids to a state Forensics meet until I saw them stacked around the Humanities Building and scattered around the rest of the campus. Adding to the general confusion was the fact that the Madison Campus seems to be under perpetual construction, making the one-ways almost impossible to navigate. I was stuck at one intersection for two light changes because the cross-traffic wasn't moving.

As all of the parking structures on campus were delegated "special event" parking (meaning it was a flat $4, cash only, pay in advance), I would have really regretted my decision to save time and not stop for cash, except for the fact that all the entrances were marked "FULL". I spent 20 minutes being funneled halfway across campus by rather unhelpful campus police (several streets were designated "one way" for this event, only no one put up signs saying this, rather the police just parked in the road and waved you to go down the wrong side of the street). Once I managed to get out of the maze, I headed to the small parking lot by the Memorial Union. If I would have been thinking clearly, I would have headed there first -- the parking lot is small and usually only used by locals as the meters are limited to 2 hrs and it lot is slightly tricky to get to. However, I know from experience that the people who park there tend to be short timers and it's likely that someone will be leaving soon. Just to be sure, I say a little prayer asking that, since it's already 7:25, if I don't get a spot, I'll just take it as a sign I should head over to finabair's place and find out how Myr did when I call her later.

As it is, I pull into the lot just as someone is pulling out. I grab the empty space (just ahead of three cars who had the same idea). There is 18 minutes on the meter, just enough for me to pop into the Union, use the ATM, get change and return to pump in four more quarters and buying another hour of parking time.

I trudge up Bascom Hill and get to her room in the Hall just in time to hear her give the last two minutes of her piece (through the door, as I'm not stupid enough to interrupt a forensics meet). It's not what I wanted, but after spending 30 minutes just trying to park in that nightmare, I would take what I could get.

It was worth it though. She earned 24 out of 25 points. That netted her a Silver Medal. YAY!Myr! It also earned her a letter in Forensic! WooHoo!Myr! (For those of you unfamiliar with letters and letterman jackets, Wiki explains all).

In addition to lettering in Forensics, she can earn a letter for participating in band events, choir events, and even for getting a high GPA! When I went to school you only could letter in sports (and my brother earned one for tennis but that was at the end of his senior year and it would have been a waste of money to buy a jacket to put the letter on). In high school, I participated in debate and drama and had a high GPA, but that sort of thing didn't count. Of course, when my mom went to High School, they were called letterman jackets for a reason and the only way a woman could get one was if a guy gave it to her. Considering in high school my dad lettered in the Marines, she will be the first in my family to get a letter and letterman jacket.

I've never really placed a lot of emphasis on such things as earning a letter. Not only was the scope of the awards narrow, but too often effort and commitment was less valued than innate talent. I'm pleased that they are available for more than just a handful of athletes and have become more about recognition rather than status. Even in sports these days, you can earn a letter for being a good team player -- showing up for practices, attending all the games (even if you don't score big) and playing hard. The world tends to deify the quarterback or homerun hitter but the game is most often won by the solid performance of the unsung players.

That's my long way of saying that, although I never thought that it was important to earn a letter, I think it's really cool that she could. Especially doing something that she loves doing. Plus it gives her someplace to put all the awards that she has won so far.

It’s odd how much pleasure and satisfaction I get out of my daughter’s achievements. It’s amazing to know that, despite all my limitations and foolish mistakes in being a person and a parent, she is becoming her own person, a person that I find very interesting and would be glad to have as a friend. That has to be the very coolest thing about being a parent.

Comments

[donnickcottage.livejournal.com]

WAY TO GO MYR!!!!