Author Archives: yeagerturner

In the Name of Fitness

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 ’In the Name of Fitness’ 

July08-3-223x300Okay, I kept a secret from most of you and I am truly sorry.  After doing the figure competitions I decided to step up my game a little bit and ponder switching to fitness.  The main difference is that fitness also includes a two minute routine with five required skills: One arm pushups, side split, straddle hold, pike hold and high kicks.

So, I went and dug in the very back of my closet.  I had to look high and low – before the college years, before high school, before the Wave Nuveau, and  before menstruation started.  I went all the back in my closet to elementary school to pull out the tricks and skills I used to be able to do way back then.  The first thing I tried to do was a back handspring (a back flip).  Since I live alone, I had to think about what I would do if I landed on my neck.  So I put the cordless phone on the floor next to me and prayed for the best.  (You know that I was okay since I am able to write this column today!)  I then went to Alpha Cheer gym and had DeShawn spot me on some other skills.  I blushed after I did a tumbling pass and a kid in the gym said, ‘Wow!  I’ve never seen an adult do that before!’

In less than two weeks I was able to pull together a fitness routine.  DJ Que accomplished a miracle by putting together a mix of Michael Jackson songs for the music.  I also needed a performance outfit but didn’t have a lot of time.  So, I went to the costume store and purchased a cool looking gangsta outfit.  The top looked great and I added some material to some shorts to match at the bottom.  The most difficult part was getting through the two minute routine.  Every night I would go home and a different body part would hurt.  While ‘gym’ used to be my guy, ‘BenGay’ was slowing becoming my best buddy.

My first fitness competition was last weekend in Ft. Wayne, IN (see video).  Like always, I had a blast.  I was the only woman of color in the competition, but everyone was extremely nice.  While driving home, I really thought about how wonderful an experience I just had.  The last time I performed was over 2 ½ years ago.  My mother and I performed with a group of women for a Krewe party.  Even then I didn’t  tumble.  It was amazing to me, that at the age of 32 I was able to rise to the occasion.

Footnote: as fun and wonderful as the competition was, the next morning, my entire body was sore.  It ached to walk.  It ached to lie down.  It ached to ache.  But, with the help of a great massage and my buddy Bengay I am now back in training ready to hit that next pot of gold!  It is absolutely never too late in life to accomplish something.  Was there something years ago in life you enjoyed doing?  What happened for you to give it?  Why not do it again?  Try it just once and relive that passion!

Video of Routine

It’s my first fitness competition.  Where did those flips come from? Click on the photo to watch the video.

M.Y. July 2008

He Made a Difference

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“He Made a Difference”

July08-2Many of us loved to love him.  Others of us loved to hate him.  Some of us were just neutral.  Regardless of how you felt about Reverend Louis Coleman, everyone should agree that he spoke up for the rights of others – especially African Americans.

I was saddened to hear the news of his death on Saturday afternoon.  He was a close friend of my family and they always referred to him by his nickname “Buster”.   My grandmother had been a member at his church.  “Buster” was even a part of the funeral service for my father, grandmother, uncle and other relatives.   Whenever someone needed him at their side, he was always there.

I can’t honestly say that I didn’t agree with everything Rev. Coleman did.  There were some times that I would watch the news and wonder why he was making such a fuss.  It could have been the smallest issue, but in his eyes, no cause was too small.   I’d watch the infamous bullhorn as he and a group of protestors marched around various streets and buildings in the state.  If there was injustice going on, you can bet your money that Louis Coleman was there.

The weird thing I realized, though, was that although sometimes controversial, Rev. Coleman was the most dependable civil rights activist in our area.  If I read a headline in the CJ that sounded controversial, I knew without a doubt that Rev. Coleman would be one of the first people there to represent the ‘unheard voice’.  He never let me down.  He didn’t care if you were black/while, rich/poor.  If an issue needed to be brought to the surface, Louis Coleman carried the life preserver to keep it afloat.  WHO NOW WILL REPRESENT THAT VOICE?

Louis Coleman and his groups spoke my voice, even at times when I wasn’t willing to speak for myself.  I never personally protested, even when I knew there needed to be change.    You have to admire the strength he had for standing loud, strong and proud – even though it was often taken for granted.  But who is going to fill his shoes from our generation?  I think about my generation and wonder what are we really doing to strengthen ourselves and those around us?  We grew up and now live in an environment where we can flourish and are for the most part considered equal.  It hasn’t always been that way.  It hasn’t been that way for long.  We still continue to have struggles (just ask the folks out in our state that say they’ll never vote for a black person for president).

What will it take for us to be willing to take those stands for ourselves? How can we better ourselves to speak out for the ‘unheard voices’?  What do we need to do to ensure our continued progress?  How can we strengthen the entire African American community while decreasing the violence, disease, single parent homes and lack of education?  I know I don’t have the answers to all of these questions.  Hopefully as I go through life, I can be part of the solution!  Whoever knew that the death of our local civil rights leader would affect me in such a way?!
M.Y. July 2008

Monkey Kids

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‘Monkey Kids’

I will be the first to admit that I am fascinated with monkeys.  I think they are some of the greatest creatures ever created!  Their human-like characteristics are amazing and they are just a joy to watch in general. How can you not love a chimp?

I was watching television this week and there is a new fad going on in the US.  People that are unable to have children and even empty nesters are starting to adopt surrogate kids.  These aren’t just any kids.  These kids are actual monkeys.  One lady showed her monkey in her jean skirt and took her to the park to swing with the other kids in the neighborhood.  Others created monkey nurseries by painting the walls so the monkey would feel ‘at home’.

While watching the previews I thoughts I’d support people having monkeys.  Heck, I always wanted Michael Jackson to give me Bubbles as a birthday present.  But, the more I watched the show, the more I realized this was going a little too far.  These people did not purchase a monkey to raise as a pet.  They weren’t training them or creating an outdoor habitat.  No, these people really thought these ‘mon-kids’ were real.  They wanted the monkeys to take the place of children that no longer, or couldn’t, existed in their house.

Some owners realized over time that the home was not the best place for a monkey and they returned the monkeys to a monkey habitat.  They realized that although they were filling their own personal need for attachment, it was hurting the monkey in return.  How often do we do things to fill our needs without really thinking about how it can effect others around?  I know I’m guilty!  And while I can’t go back and change some of my situations from the past, moving forward I can take the time to look at both sides of the situation before making my decisions.

M.Y.  July 2008

We All Matter

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“We All Matter”

June08-4I went to San Diego for a conference recently and our hotel was located right on a marina.  It was amazing to look out of my hotel room window and see the sun rise each morning above all of the boats.  One afternoon I decided to rent a kayak to explore all that the marina had to offer.

I thought I’d be able to take my camera with me until the dude advised me not to take it in case I flipped over.  Huh?  Flip over?  That sounds a little scary.  He said there was only a ten percent chance that would happen.  So, I put on my life vest and went on my way.

It was a pretty relaxing experience to be in this body of water surrounded by all types of things.  I first encountered a barge.  Chillin’ on the barge sat a large number of seagulls.  Next to them were sea lions that made enough noise to let everyone know they were in charge.  It was cool to kayak right next to them and just stare in amazement.

I then moved on out further into the marina and passed various boats, yachts and tour boats.  I laughed at the various names “Only Child”, “Hidden Pleasure”, “In Charge”.  Some were stationed in place, while others were floating around.

The wonderful thing I encountered was that although I was just this little person in this little kayak, I gained the same amount of respect as the larger yachts.  We all had to share the same space.  Even as I again paddled close to the barge, some of the sea lions jumped in the water in front of me.  At first I thought they’d confuse my black skin as being one of them.  However, they just swam in the water minding their own business.  It was all about co-existing together.

The entire experience reminded me that this was a reflection of life.  So many of us feel like the little people in the world. But what we fail to realize is that our contributions are still important.  When the tour boats went past me, people waved at me because they were excited to see me in the water.  The sea lion didn’t care who was around because he was going to enjoy life regardless.  We are all pieces of the puzzle.  If your piece isn’t included, the puzzle is not complete!
M.Y.  June 2008

Internal Alarm Clock

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“Internal Alarm Clock”

June08-3I used to wake up at 6:40 every morning for work.  The alarm clock would go off and country music would play in the background.  I used to try to wake up to B96, but it sometimes didn’t get good reception so the country channel was the first that came in crystal clear! As soon as the alarm went off, I pressed the snooze button.  Ahh, another 8 minutes of sleep!  I continued to press the snooze button every 8 minutes until it was close to 7:30am and then I would get up and get ready for work.

Over my winter break,  I didn’t need an alarm because I was on vacation and on my own time.  I realized that I still woke up pretty early in the morning.  I thought about my weekends also and realized that I get up pretty early on the weekends.  So I stopped using my alarm clock beginning January 1, 2008.

Without the alarm, I woke up each morning sometime between 7:24 and 7:39.  My sleep did not discriminate against the weekends.  If I went out and did not get to bed until 3:00am, my body still woke up only a couple of hours later.  (not cute, but true).  Sometimes I could fall back asleep, and other times I just laid in bed watching tv.

Life was all good with my internal alarm clock – until Daylight Savings Time hit!  At first I set my alarm again because I wasn’t sure how my body would react.  Well, my body decided not to participate in the time change so now I wake up at 6:30ish every morning.  I feels wonderful to wake up peacefully and on my own accord.  It’s nice to take my time getting ready for work.  It sometimes sucks on the weekends, but I find hope in the joys of a mid-day nap.

Footnote:  I am just telling you this as an FYI.  Please do not try this tonight right before your big presentation at work tomorrow.  When your husband tells you to wake him  up at 8:00pm so he can watch the NBA finals do NOT tell him Michelle told you to use your internal clock and you realized yours didn’t work.  I believe if you have one – great, if not be blessed that God created alarms.  Sleep on!

M.Y.  June 2008

My Dad Loved Me

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“My Dad Loved Me!”

June08-2About two years ago I moved back into my childhood home.  I have so many great memories that existed there and it’s interesting to transition from being the child in the house to now having full ownership and paying all the bills.
My house is in a great neighborhood with a backyard that is connected to a golf course.  It’s peaceful to sit outside on a cool day (haven’t had those recently) and enjoy all that nature had to offer.  But, my backyard also has something very unique.  A homemade balance beam!  Starting at the age of six, I was a very competitive gymnast.  I’d go to practice four days a week and could tumble without thought.  My father was always very crafty, and during elementary school, he built me my own wooden balance beam so that I could practice at home.  It was the exact length and width (4 inches) as the real thing.
Recently I went outside and walked right next to the beam.  I thought about the serious thought my father had to put into creating this masterpiece.  He had to carefully measure each piece of wood.  He also had to create something study enough so that it would stay in the ground.  It had to be able to outlast wind, rain, snow, hail and just my general body weight.  It had to be perfect.   Over 25 years later, it’s still perfect.
Growing up I probably took for granted the beam. Although I appreciated it, I never really contemplated the dedication and love my father had for me to even consider creating something like that.  I was my father’s baby girl, his only child, his pride and joy.  Still seeing the beam today lets me know that he wanted to do whatever he could to bring me happiness.  My father passed away in 1993.  Who would have known that  almost 15 years later an object made of wood would bring back the feelings and strong emotions of unconditional love and gratitude!!
Happy Father’s Day

M.Y.  June 2008