Hello, Derby Lovers…
It has been a pathetically long time since I updated, and
for that I hang my head in shame. While the initial purpose of the blog was to
document the trials and tribulations of learning to become a Women’s Flat
Track Roller Derby Referee, I would be lying if I said I had nothing to write
about once I got rolling.
Roc City Roller Derby, after being accepted as full members
of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), decided to extend the
Travel Season from Fall of 2011 through the summer of 2012; so that we could
participate in the required number of sanctioned bouts to earn quarterly
rankings through Q4. That provided for a lot of travel, a lot of practice, a
lot of networking, and no little bit of stress, frustration, and exhaustion.
There was, however, a great deal of Derby Love and camaraderie, and I fell in
love with stripes and 8 wheels.
I skated a few travel bouts as Inside Pack Ref, but more
importantly… in October I skated my first bout as Jammer Ref; and damn if I
didn’t do a pretty decent job for my first time out. This was also a very
significant event for me because I would end up being off-skates because of
elective surgery.
Twelve weeks ago today I underwent a Total Abdominal
Hysterectomy to treat fibroids. Fibroids are tissue masses that develop on and
around the uterine walls. I had many, and they were large. They were the root
of my anemic condition, they were causing discomfort, and left untreated they
would cause issues with my kidneys and/or bladder.
Total Abdominal means a horizontal slice across my lower
abdomen of approximately 16.5 cm. I was out of work for 4 weeks. Here’s the
kicker: I was back on skates, per my surgeon’s volunteered OK, at 8 weeks. I’m
back to referee practices on Tuesday nights, and I’ve scrimmaged for the last 3
Thursdays; 2 times as OPR and last night as IPR.
I won’t lie, it hasn’t been easy. I occasionally experience
those “time to slow down a little bit there, kiddo” pains… though are less
frequent and less intense. I have to rebuild my endurance and my flexibility…
and add in the adoption of a new Rules Set and yeah… I’ve become a little gun shy.
I get frustrated at having difficulty with things that were easy peasy 6 months
ago… and I have to constantly remind myself that I had major invasive surgery 3
months ago and I’m already back on skates and pulling my weight around the
track.
I’m grateful to my league, and my fellow 19th
Wardens, and my friends and family who have been so supportive with anything
from bringing me food and keeping me company to driving me around to sending me
care packages to loaning me material to prepare for surgery to even just a
phone call, text, or email to say “hi, thinking about you and wanting you
better soonest.” And I’m grateful for the
sport of Flat Track Roller Derby for giving me a reason to heal swiftly and
completely… to get better and get stronger so that I can get back into it. I’m
grateful to be a Derby Referee.
 | ||||
| pic courtesy of pixel8 |
[show my poor little blog some lovin'. Leave a comment, even if it's to just say hi :)]
