HOWZITGOIN?
In 1963 I saw some unicyclists called The Vilantes (spelling ?)
on Hollywood Palace or The Ed Sullivan Show. I decided right
then and there that I must have a unicycle! I begged my parents
night and day. I demonstrated my balance by walking on my hands
and running on the top of fences. After 2 years of this, I got
one for Christmas. I grabbed it and headed outside, but my
parents made me open all my other gifts first.
The big moment finally arrived, and everyone came outside to
watch (in a family of 8 kids, there's always an audience). At
the ripe old age of 12 I was convinced that with my superior
balance and determination I could ride this thing the first time
I tried! So I put it in front of me and jumped right up on it.
And immediately I fell on my butt! Next time I fell on my face,
then my elbows, then my knees... well, you get the picture. My
family went back inside the house and I continued making a fool
of myself in private. By the end of the day I could ride about
100 feet (serpentine), turn around (wide berth) and ride back.
I have permanent scars from that day, especially on my ankles.
To this very day, when someone tells me they were able to ride
a unicycle the first time they ever tried, I think to myself
"Yes, and I'll bet the first time you ever tried to tell a lie
you succeeded at that too!"
I eventually mastered the critter and was an instructor at The
Unicyclists Unique Club in Phoenix, Arizona for several years.
(more about that some other time).
Maybe I'll see some of you in Chariton, Iowa in '96.
Thank you and have a FANTASTIC day!
Captain Fantastic