Please publish my story. ----- Original Message ----- From: joseph mazzella To: cynthia groopman Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 6:43 PM Subject: reformatted story: The Hula Hoop
The Hula Hoop By: Cynthia Groopman It was in the summer of 1958, when a new fad became part of our nation. Girls were excited about the hula hoop. They were so full of energy and waited on line at each store to be able to purchase those prized items. They came in all sizes. There were small ones for the arms, big ones for the waist to do the hula dance and some that made noise with some kind of beans in them. I was excited and mom and I walked to the five and ten Cents store on Broadway in Long island city where there were lots of girls squealing and jumping up and down as they were waiting for their turn to get their hands on the hoop. It was as though they were selling gold. I asked my mom why the fuss for a material item. She said that as the years go by there would be many more material items for the girls and boys and grownups to get excited about. It was fun watching the joy and smiles and excitement. I got my hoop and was smiling and grinning from ear to ear. In the park we would have jumping with the hoop and turning it with our arms and also doing the hula. I practiced since Queensview would have their contest. I practiced and practiced and did well. The big day arrived for the contest. It was not hot so it was comfortable. We were asked to do all of the three things with the hoop, twirl it on our arms, jump through it and also do the hula dance. Each one of us was given a number. When our number was called, we stepped up to the center of the playground and performed our acts. I did all three with confidence, smiles and belief that I would win. The judges were the management of the children's program. I won all three and was jumping up and down and so happy. Oh, the gift was a trophy. I never felt such mirth and oh those blissful days of youth, the sunshine smiles, innocence and the warm fuzzy times of serenity make me yearn so much for them now. The hoops are gone and are a memory .However, my mom was right. Now there are huge lines to get IPhones, Ipods, computers and other technological marvels. I liked the good clean fun of simple joy of playing with a hula hoop on a summer day and winning a contest which taught me sportsmanship and to savor the victory of victory. I have had other winning times in life and have been glowing in triumph's glory, but the victory that stands out in my mind is the day I was Miss Hula Hoop of Queensview. I walk by that playground, now filled with other children enjoying youth's joys, and wonder if they will savor cherished memories as I do now in my almost 62 year of life. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail. Get busy. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/dbilg?hl=en.
