Everyone’s packed for this, our final trip of the month and cheer season, to Virginia Beach.
Everyone except me. I just … can’t … do it.
Love Virginia Beach, and the beach itself is a beauty. Last time I was there, there was some sort of kite festival, and I saw the most amazing, colorful kites sailing against brilliant blue skies. The weather this weekend is to be similarly gorgeous.
Right now, though, I can’t stand the sight of luggage. Or the gym’s t-shirts – purple for Saturday, black for Sunday – we wear to every competition. And the cowbells. Lord, the cowbells.
It is my daughter’s last competition, and it should be her last one, ever, since she’s graduating, but she has yet to turn 18, and wants to cheer one more year. After screaming long and loud into a pillow, I reluctantly said OK. She’ll be paid to coach, and she wants to go for a cheer scholarship.
For a time, I was looking forward to going on this trip, because I could walk from the convention center to the beach during the hours Sky wasn’t performing. It’s about a mile, and walking on sand is a workout in itself. A nice, healthy romp on a lovely day in a lovely town.
Still, this makes three weekends in a row of hours on the road, hotels and fast food. I’ve told you how I feel about road food. I believe if I were to walk into a Subway right now, I’d become violently ill.
Skyler understands. Gone are the days when she’d be hurt one of us would miss her competitions. She has so much fun running around with her friends, we hardly see her, anyway. But there is another reason she won’t mind my not coming, evidence I’ve raised this child right: The Body Shop is having a warehouse sale tomorrow, and she’s counting on me to bag some loot.
Last fall I went to my first Body Shop warehouse sale, and have been lusting for another ever since. I went on the first day, then took Sky on the second day, then went back the third day. I told as many people I could about it, and they’re still thanking me.
This sale is just for a few hours, and benefits The Body Shop Foundation, but that has nothing to do with why I’ll arrive 30 minutes before the doors open, Starbucks in hand. Fifty cents for a $7.50 bottle of home fragrance oil is why I’m going. Three dollars for $20 body butters is why I’m going.
That tomorrow is May 1 is something to celebrate in and of itself. April was not kind, and I’m glad to see it gone. Next month I plan on going back to Dr. Bean for repeat bloodwork. You’ll recall I was deemed pre-diabetic when I started this journey, and refused to go on meds. I’m anxious to see what the numbers say now.
If you’re one of the many I’ve heard from who are losing weight along with me, keep up the good work. Pressure and stress have caused me to slow down a little, but looking forward to an aggressive May.
Carrie: Honey, if it hurts so much, why are we going shopping?
Samantha: I have a broken toe, not a broken spirit.
~ Sex and the City
Leslie J. Ansley is an award-winning journalist and entrepreneur who blogs daily for TheRoot. She lives in Raleigh, NC.