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“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”

~ Dr. Seuss

Well, it seems odd that I’m writing this. As I pack my worldly belongings, I keep coming across little derby knickknacks. After almost three years of being in this odd family (yes it is like family with the good and bad times), I’ve got a few keepsakes that will bring back memories to make me smile when I unpack them in Calgary. Or have to explain why I kept them in the first place.

Here is a list in no particular order of importance: those first meetings just talking about ourselves and wanting derby to be in Vancouver. Practicing in that cold storage warehouse three days before skating against Rat Cityplayers and feeling like coming home. The derby road trips, the silliness of having 10-15 women and their bladders ;-). Watching almost every Rat City game one season, thanks to Mom for the truck those weekends and falling in love with the sport as a fan as well. That damn pink shirt! Those first few months with so many people at practice, splitting into teams, testing, trying to figure out what we were doing. How to run a league with no blueprints is fun! First RollerCon with the best ladies ever, even if we didn’t know each others real names before we got down there. Dancing on the bar at HnH, a few nights in a row and seeing Vegas for the first time. Random tickets and books from derby events Playing derby, scrimmaging with the Heathers, scrimmaging with NW derby sisters – meeting every one and just having so much fun! (Fake) Jell-O wrestling. Fundraisers – for different trips or just for general derby funds. Driving to Edmonton (oy!).  Season 1 at our lovely summer home Royal City Curling Rink. Practicing at UBC, layers, layers, layers. Skating at a childhood arena – Kerrisdale is an awesome place. Skating as our teams for a full season. Derby Night in Canada. Those crazy ladies on The All-Star team going undefeated! The dinners and get-togethers, where derby didn’t have to be discussed to keep conversations going. Thankful for derby for taking me to Calgary. Didn’t know I’d find that girl in a town not my own.  Being able to enjoy Northwest Knockdown with my derby family and my future family.   

I will miss this crazy family I have made, but I’m sure I will be back. At least maybe even to coach – since the body doesn’t like derby so much right now. 

I’m sure there is more, but I don’t want to go on and on about how great this league TCRG is, because I’m sure you all know that. 

Thanks for letting me prattle on. 

grunt #604.