April 9, 2012, 25 days and counting ...
25 days until I leave for Cancun. :) yay
I just have to say again and again how grateful I am for how lucky and blessed I have been in life. I get to be part of the Olivia Team in Cancun May 5-12, 2012. The fact that I even was introduced to Olivia and going on the 2 cruises I’ve been on with Olivia is a miracle. Both were ‘gifts’.
I just completed my Zumba Instructor License Training to add to my AFAA Group fitness Certification and experience teaching Kickboxing. I have had my journey and transformation on my own body, mind and spirit. Healthy Eating, Exercise and movement is SO much fun! And dancing on the Olivia trips is SO MUCH FUN. Since January 2009 I've dropped 60+ lbs, 35% body fat, and 35+ inches in my body, and gone from a size 18/20 to a 9/10.
I LOVE dancing, and it was a learned behavior for me. I spent much of my childhood playing basketball and dance parties at the Turners house next door. That’s where I learned to dance. In those days I was this shy little white girl watching from the sidelines, soaking in as many dance moves as I could. Lesbian dances were the first place I felt comfortable dancing. Now I dance until the sun comes up.
I am grateful for TITLE 9 and advancements for Women’s Sports.
I have this "Déjà vu" memory, a flashback to the summer before my freshman year in college, when the new Women’s Varsity Soccer Team at Rolla was looking for a goalkeeper. The coach came to watch me play indoor goalie. I had never had lessons and only played for 6 months of indoor soccer when he recruited me. Coach gave me a scholarship to attend University of Missouri Rolla and play starting goalkeeper on the 1st season of the UMR Women’s Soccer Team. That summer I worked really hard before our 1st season, had my own goalie coach to teach me how to play outdoor goalie. My committed efforts were rewarded by our team's and my results.
It's been 28 years since I've seen my college coach Paul McNally. In January 2012, thanks to FACEBOOK, Coach McNally, contacted me and his words really were music to my ears.
Especially since when I had been awarded All-American in 1984 with UMR, our team was ranked 10th Nationally that year which was HUGE since this was only our 2nd season. The highest point in my athletic career, and the lowest point as a Lesbian in the closet, scared to come out. I left Rolla in 1985, after my 3rd season and finished my Bachelors of Arts in Mathematics and a minor in Computer Science at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
I stopped going to play in the Alumni games in the late 80's after never seeing my All-American Award displayed along with all of the other (mostly Men) All-American Athletes at Rolla. I didn't understand why my All-American Award wasn't displayed ~ so I thought I failed since I transferred from UMR to UMC.
In 2002 when I called Athletic Director at UMR, he was so happy to hear from me. I emailed him a copy of my All-American Award since he asked to see it. He knew who I was from all of the articles and in fact, he mentioned I still held the record for the lowest goals per game average. One season, in 1984, my average goals allowed were .94 goals per game. In the call with the Athletic Director, Mark Mullen, he said
"Lisa your name had come up to be in the Hall of Fame at UMR but because I had not graduated from Rolla, I could not be in the Hall of Fame."
Then I said to him, which he had no idea at that time, as he would have no way of knowing "Well, Mark, for what it's worth, I did graduate from the University Of Missouri in Columbia (UMC), which is part of the University Of Missouri School System, for what it's worth. "
2 weeks I later I received a certified letter in the mail from UMR congratulating me for being nominated to be inducted in the University Of Missouri at Rolla's Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2002, I was the first Woman Soccer player inducted in the Hall of Fame in Rolla. On that day in September 2002, 18 years from the year I was awarded All-American, my award was finally hanging in the front glass case along with all of the other All-American Athletes. I was moved to tears and sobbed like a baby.
“Lisa!!!,
Just saw the article about you and the famous astronaut on the NCAA web page.
… Been a Long time but I will forever remember that first Women's team at UMR and will ALWAYS consider UMR, it's people, it's campus and you players as the best college I ever had the opportunity to be at. I continue to look at Rolla as a special place, a special school and the best experience!!.
in my mind you will always be a good person, a very talented Goalkeeper and a kid who took a chance on a new program with a new coach with no idea what direction we were headed.
Lisa, you were an unproven Goal Keeper from University City Schools becoming an All-American.
Great to see you continue to be recognized as the GK you were by the NCAA.”
Coach Paul McNally, 1982-1985 my Soccer Coach for UMR. Go Miners!
I had the honor of being interviewed by the NCAA, I played soccer with some amazing wonderful women, including a now NASA Astronaut, Sandra Magnus.
: http://www.ncaa.com/news/soccer-women/article/2012-01-13/magnus%E2%80%99-growth-out-world
As I prepare for my first experience on the Olivia Team, those pre college days and preparing for my first day on the field with the other women, this is how I feel right now, as I prepare for my first adventure with Olivia Travel as Staff. I am more excited in life than I can remember being in years and years, if ever this excited.
p.s. I am so happy my 2 little pups and my kitty will have a live in pet sitter for them while I’m away, and he's going to be my housemate renting my basement, too. yay!
Here's my Zumba License. I'm so excited to learn as much as I can and I'm having a blast at the same time. Zumba makes me giggle and smile.
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