In terms of my playing volleyball in any organized way, I started back in September 2003. But the impetus of volleyball has always been my family. It
was around me during family gatherings at my grandparents house on Sundays. We would gather, chat sitting on the porch, make some food, and do those family sports activities like baseball, basketball, and even volleyball. And you know how family sports activities, they are just crazy and wild but they were always fun. I come from a very large extended family so we would have about three teams of six easily, sometimes even enough to draw numbers to be put on a team and have a mini-tournament. It was a lot of fun having so many aunts, uncles, and cousins to do a lot of these activities with. I've always said I'm not an athletic person and it was even worse growing up. I was not a coordinated person and did not have a lot of confidence with sports even though I was always around it with my family. I loved playing volleyball with my family because it was all about FUN. I just wish it was something more I could do when I'm home in Texas but it's a little different now because I've learned so much about the game that I don't know if I could play it recreationally. My grandparents had a designated area for volleyball play and even had metal poles cemented in the ground to hold the net. The family took a collection to even get a net and ball which I'm not sure if we still have. So many memories about those days. I would stand on the side while I was not playing and holler out the score. Good times!!
Laughter is a comforting sound, especially when it comes from friends and family. It generates a feeling of happiness and a sense of belonging. Laughter heals inner wounds, if only temporary, but it is a moment that can transform a weak moment to a profound one.
In the last week, I've noticed how laughter can bring people closer together, not necessarily one specific example can be noted because there are so many, but it just tells me the power of laughter. It can happen while waiting to sign-up, hanging out after open play, or on the court.
At open play, I will be the first person to bust out in giggles over my own mistake or a bad play. Those giggles can be loud and, on occasion, be heard when someone makes a silly play by mistake, of course. Laughter in any form is great for the soul. It can take even the most tense moment and turn it around.
And like one of my favorite movie line states "laughter through tears is my favorite emotion." What an even better emotion. Without going into specifics, lately volleyballers have provided this and for that I'm very thankful.
In previous posts, I have mentioned the importance of friendship in my life--they represent a life line for me because my family is back in TX. I may not be open and revealing as others but I'm always an ear to listen, a shoulder to lean on, and, if needed, a protector. In return, a lot of volleyball friends, in addition to non-volleyball friends, put up with my zaniness and obsessions. One of those obsessions is the musical DREAMGIRLS. In the last few months, there are been many DREAMGIRLS moments that I've shared, and the volleyball circle has endured it and completely humored me, but today was a moment in that obsession that was special. I shared this story with that select group of 20 or so volleyballers who saw the movie with me, and now I will mention it here. It is that special. A lot of volleyballers refer to me as Effie White, one of the characters in DREAMGIRLS, and in my office they also call me that (for obvious reasons).
So this day was quite a surprise because the original Effie, Jennnifer Holliday, came into the office. On Monday, we have a benefit called "Nothing Like A Dame," and it's a celebration of women being held at the Shubert Theatre. She is performing a number (in addition to my other idol, Lea Salonga), and she stopped by to drop off her music and go over production details. Anyway, Miss Holliday came over to say hi to me as she left, and we thanked her for doing the show. I told her that I wanted an "updated" picture because the last one we took was in 2001. I'll always be a fan of hers. Here is the picture.
Anyway, we were talking about her past year and all the publicity she received because of the movie DREAMGIRLS, and she mentioned the youtube.com clip that is up (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC_u_q-iND0). I told her that I put that clip up (1982 Tony Awards where a then-21-year-old tore it up on that signature song), and she said "you're 317" (my username is room317). She wondered how to contact the person who put that clip up. Then she just kept gushing how grateful she was that the clip was put up because as she said it "helped save her career" in her fight regarding the movie. Like the saying goes, there is no such thing as bad publicity, and she used that clip in all her interviews regarding the movie and how she was not asked to be a part of the movie. Then she almost made me cry as she was telling the story about how you don't know how you impact a person's life by doing something so simple (I wouldn't have known how putting up that video would do so much for her), and she's saying this while trying not to cry also. Truly moving and I was at a loss for words. One of the great quiet moments of my life.
In my world, today two Effie Whites met and things were great.
was around me during family gatherings at my grandparents house on Sundays. We would gather, chat sitting on the porch, make some food, and do those family sports activities like baseball, basketball, and even volleyball. And you know how family sports activities, they are just crazy and wild but they were always fun. I come from a very large extended family so we would have about three teams of six easily, sometimes even enough to draw numbers to be put on a team and have a mini-tournament. It was a lot of fun having so many aunts, uncles, and cousins to do a lot of these activities with. I've always said I'm not an athletic person and it was even worse growing up. I was not a coordinated person and did not have a lot of confidence with sports even though I was always around it with my family. I loved playing volleyball with my family because it was all about FUN. I just wish it was something more I could do when I'm home in Texas but it's a little different now because I've learned so much about the game that I don't know if I could play it recreationally. My grandparents had a designated area for volleyball play and even had metal poles cemented in the ground to hold the net. The family took a collection to even get a net and ball which I'm not sure if we still have. So many memories about those days. I would stand on the side while I was not playing and holler out the score. Good times!!
