The exam is over, the results are in. It was a lovely experience finding out as well. They get you all to sit in this room and call you off one by one to hear the verdict- a verdict that seems to take about half an hour each but in reality is more like 5-10 minutes. Of a group of 6 people and through and unfortunate series of rock, paper, scissor games; I went in last. Those before me came back with mixed results and then it was my turn to hear my fate. "Well done James, you got it." He kept talking for another five minutes or so but I didn't really listen to a word. I was happy.
A few of us went out training during the week; pretty important to have a 3rd eye to be able to get a good look at one's riding. A good bunch of people; we have been doing the prep training together for a month or two now so it's a pretty tight group.
We weren't all successful and the celebrations were littered with frustrations; Vicky was so close but didn't quite make it in her riding section. I felt her pain; much of my time spent in the waiting room was preparing myself for the very same outcome.
In a drunken stupor I decided I wanted to demonstrate my elation to the masses and decided to get up on stage and blow everyone away with a rendition of the Overton Berry Ensemble's "Black Bottom". Despite being well aware that I was probably too hammered to hit the notes very accurately, I let them have it anyway. I was a little taken aback when suddenly a bass player and drummer kicked in as my accompaniment; and even more so when the drummer took it upon himself to be my back up singer. My friends tell me it was pretty impressive but then again I have very charitable friends.Whistler is all said and done. Right now I am sitting in a Hostel in downtown Seattle. My itinerary here? Going up the Space Needle and buying new shoes - pretty exciting huh? Then tomorrow morning jumping on a plane headed for Orlando, Florida. Ah sun, salt and sand - will there be anything sweeter? It is definitely nice to be on the move again. Whistler is a bubble that has finally burst. Ahhhh.
I guess your good vibes worked. Thanks for that pappa.
