Fifteen months ago my older daughter joined a roller derby team. To be specific, she joined the Greensboro Roller Derby...which was a new team in Greensboro, NC. My initial reaction was, oh great, now she will smash an arm, a knee, a leg, or even her face (she did that once on her bike...it wasn't pretty). She doesn't have great health insurance and she has to be physically healthy to do her work...she's a hair stylist. But so far (cross fingers) she has only suffered a busted lip...and a lot of sore muscles.
But she loved it...even said it saved her life (I won't go into that part of the story).
Her derby name is Shrimp 'n Grit.
We saw our first bout in October. I was sure that I wouldn't be able to watch my first-born get jabbed, pushed down, and generally beat up.
But I loved watching it...mostly because I'm her mom and I love watching her.
But since then I have been to two more bouts and I have become a fan...not just a mom. I love the game, I love the girls...or should I say women. I love how they support each other. I love how they support their community (proceeds from every bout and every fundraiser are shared with a local charity).
Two weeks ago the Gate City Roller Girls (Greensboro's traveling team) played the Uncivil Warriors of the River City Roller Girls. That meant that Cara was playing in her hometown and that the team needed a place to stay. We were volunteered :) But three of my neighbors helped out too...two hosted roller girls and coaches and one hosted our nephew who came down to see the bout from DC. Daughter #2 came down from Cleveland. The grandparents and Uncle Jon came from Charlottesville. Her best friend came from Brooklyn. And lots of our friends and her friends came too. We had a blast!!
They were all here for breakfast on Sunday morning (Happy Mother's Day!)
I suggest that you get to know your local roller derby team. It's not that cousin to professional wrestling that you used to see on television...if you are old enough to remember that. You can learn about flat track roller derby here. It helps to have a sense of what is going on...but it's not really hard to follow.
And wish the Greensboro Roller Girls luck tonight. They have an intra-league bout...between the Mad Dollies and the Elm Street Nightmares. And pray that Shrimp 'n Grit comes away with nothing more than a few sore muscles...and a win, of course!
