Laura Purdie Salas

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You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Shouldn’t Being Fearless Get Easier Eventually?

Shouldn’t Being Fearless Get Easier Eventually?

August 10, 2011 By Laura

If you’re a regular reader, you know about my summer drum corps adventure and how far out of my comfort zone I am. I thought it would get easier as the summer went along, but, well, that’s just not happening. Instead, I just keep realizing how much further I need to go.

A couple of weeks ago in Pennsylvania, I had my best show of the season so far. But then I saw this picture (and watched video) and realized how much more performance I need. I should look like a pillaging warrior. Instead, I just look irritated, like the person in front of me in the grocery store express lane has 23 items in her cart.

Last weekend in Wisconsin, I tried to up my performance efforts. I had my absolute worst show so far. Thank god I don’t have a picture of the wrestling match I had on the field when my oar got tangled up in the pants leg of my uniform. Not pretty. And I messed up simple work that I’d been doing fine until then. Grrrr.

Just when I get a handle on one aspect of the performance, I lose track of another element. And my fingers, wrists, and forearms are alternating between sore, feeling like they’re on fire, and numbness.

Finals are Labor Day weekend, so I’m just trying to hold on through that and get better each week.

What does this have to do with writing? Not much, except that this is causing me to have my least productive writing summer in many years. Yikes. And that it’s that same overwhelming feeling you get when you’re trying to revise a manuscript, and each time you fix one thing, you totally screw up another. Trying to pull it all together into a cohesive story feels impossible.

But I’m having fun, too, in some weird, masochistic way. Even though I’m not very good at it, learning to spin has been really satisfying. I might be the worst guard member, but I’m miles from that first January night of practice. So at least it’s progress.

Here are a few other recent pics.


In our Valhalla angel-warrior uniforms


Ran and me after a show


Escorting the funeral pyre to pick up our fallen hero (I’m the oar on the left)


My nemesis: the oar


Advancing on the field with the giant Viking ship sail. That thing is heavy!

Tagged With: drum corps, personal

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MAY NEWS

All 3 of my 2023 books are out now! Thank you to everyone who's celebrated with me, shared the books, or read/reviewed them. <3

Right now, I'm recovering from National Poetry Month! I'm also working on 2 tricky picture book revisions, and I'm preparing for a bunch of speaking events and storytimes! Join Yvonne Pearson and I for two loon-themed outdoor storytimes on June 6 and August 1. And on July 14, I'll be storying up a storm at Robert Trail Library! Hope to see you there!

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