Feet of Strength

"I have been training for this moment my whole life." That's often a statement you'd hear from an Olympian or some other athlete after s/he wins the big game or event. While I like to consider myself an athlete, and the feat that I accomplished did involve some degree of athleticism, what I achieved would be by no man's measure an official event. I suceeded in maintaining my balance (thus neither bumping into my fellow passengers nor awkwardly busting my own ass) on the Metro train.

While throughout my life I have endeavored to improve my balance and coordination mainly to overcome my innate clumsiness, my training began in earnest last summer while riding public transportation in Hong Kong. It began as kind of a silly game to see if I could remain erect while the train took off and stopped, partly to combat boredom, partly because it entertained my friends, and partly because it annoyed my husband. Then, I picked it up again here in the DC area for my own nostalgic amusement, and it became such a regular habit of mine that it has ceased to annoy my husband (good man). These days, however, I am typically in uniform when I ride the metro train or bus, so I have to behave myself. I have had to clandestinely hone my skills which has actually served to intensify my training.

This morning my dedication and due diligence were unexpectedly put to the test. On my way to a conference, I hopped on the green line in the teeth of the commuter hour. Obviously there were no seats, and I had to move to part of the train that had no bars to hold. Inexperienced, frightened souls around me feverishly glanced about for a bar to grip for a secure handhold. Not me. I was sure of foot and stout of heart. I knew that this was my moment. I stood firm and dug in my proverbial (and literal) heels. The train lurched forward and whammo! my body remained virtually still, feet planted, solid as a church. When the time came for the train to stop, I likewise remained as firm in my footing as a tightroperope walker. When I alighted the train, I was so gleeful I wanted to hop up and click my heels. But I knew my limits. I hadn't practiced heel clicking. Besides, I was in uniform.