Run off at the state championship

The USA Waterski Association hosts state competitions for every 50 states. Indiana's was held near Danville this year - just west of Indianapolis. All ages competed in slalom, jump, and trick skiing events over two full days.

One of the most fun events this year was men's 4 slalom. Although these men are in their 40s, it's one of the toughest groupings; skiing some of the shortest rope lengths. Kevin Smith took first place in this event, and Paul Miller took second, with an exciting run into 38 feet off the line. Paul M. Is impressive, and to watch - he just hangs on to the handle no matter what, even if his body slams into the water around the buoy. He'll hold on to the handle when most of us would be finished, keep his ski under him and keep going. So exciting. I think he got 2 buoys at 38' but don't quote me on that. He had run a bunch of complete passes around the buoy before that at the longer lengths.

The thing was, three other competitors in the class all scored the next best - these men all got .5 buoy at 38' off - don't ask me to explain the weird (half a buoy) scoring now, the terms are old fashioned. There's the metric scoring used world wide but most people in the U.S. still use English measurement in common conversation. Brad Beerman, Chris Clark and Paul Goldman tied at this score, beating the rest of the field. This meant a run-off for third place statewide.

Goldman won the coin toss, and chose to go last. Beerman went out first, at 35' off. No warm up here; that is really smokin' hot at 34 mph. Brad did not make it around one ball at 38'. Clark was up next. He ran solidly through 35', and then looked strong at 38', even though he had reported rotator-cuff problems. He came up with 2.5 at 38'. Very impressive - but what it did was set a goal for Goldman to reach. He no longer had to try and run the whole pass - he just had to get past 2.5 to win.

Goldman is cool and collected under tournament pressure, about as trim looking as he was in his twenties, long-legged, a bit more slight than the other men - lean. He stayed on the back of his ski, didn't over pull and jerk himself out of position, and smoothly nailed 35'. There was lots of anticipation in the crowd before his 38'. All eyes were down at the far end, waiting for the boat to take off. And there he came, and around ball one, two, stretching out at this super-short rope length, slipping his ski around ball three, and then just back behind the boat, in control behind the wake.

He had won it. Slick as it could be, he did, and didn't risk falling and blowing it by going on and trying to run the whole pass. Choosing to go last from the coin toss had paid off. It was fun for the crowd, and a good story to report from the iPad. On to the regionals in Minnesota the competitors will now go. More challenges ahead. See you all later.

Red Cedar Center summer camp

Red Cedar Center on Hursh Road is a special place. The large horse farm offers horseback riding lessons, boarding, therapeutic riding, and recreational camps. It's so lovely - mature trees and verdant fields, white-washed fences and a swimming lake that glitters and beckons.

This week, the country park has a special mission - it's hosting disabled campers. Camp Red Cedar features different kinds of camps - allows kids in wheelchairs the opportunity to go swimming, facilitates kids with cerebral palsy in riding horses, etc. This week it's a home to another unique group of campers - teens with autism.

Autism Community Together coordinates this much-needed camp in Fort Wayne. Fine people have put on the camp for seven years now. The activities would be fun for any kid campers, but are of course tailored to the busy autism community and the stimulation the kids need.

There is music therapy, tumbling, soccer, and an obstacle course. I think the most popular activities are the horseback riding (with helmets and guides/trainers) and the swimming fun. The day is rounded out with crafts and Karate. At the end of the week, the kids will tie-dye a shirt as a keepsake.

Earlier today, I saw an anxious child tear through the parking lot, not able to patiently wait for the parent picking him up. Three counselors charged after him, moving quickly - a kid with autism on the run. It was touching- the concern, the bolting child. It's great these kids have a special place to go, where there is much compassion for them. They can just be kids, enjoying the best of summer.

For movie night, try Mao's Last Dancer

While the rest of my family is away at a waterski tournament, I'm going to take a moment to write about a film that really moved me. Mao's Last Dancer is an Australian biographical film from 2009. It's the true story of Li Cunxin, who was plucked as an 11-year-old from Shandong province in China to attend an elite ballet school in Beijing. In the 1960's and '70's, Mao was scouring the nation to find the best talent for nationalist programs to make the Communist regime look good. Children were gathered up and trained for years away from their families.

Directed by Bruce Beresford, the film starts a bit slowly and then hooks you. I rented it to see the dancing, and the technical quality of the dancing in this movie is outstanding. But this inspiring story (superbly acted by folks including Joan Chen and Kyle MacLachlin) how this dancer came to Houston and began to question his future as an artist and a Communist, is what is truly special about this film.

Li, brilliantly skilled in the classic Russian ballet technique, is chosen by the Houston Ballet for a three-month stint in the United States. Immersed in the culture, he wishes to stay longer, and marries an American. When the Chinese officials want him to return, he and Houston Ballet director Ben Stevenson go to the Chinese Consulate to plead his case. There Li is forcibly detained, and it takes high profile, high level negotiations for him to be freed from the consulate. After tense talks, he is released but his Chinese citizenship is revoked and he is banished from ever going to China to see his family. He has nightmares about how cruelly they may be treated because of him.

Even if you don't like ballet, I think you might be impressed with this story and its true history. At the end, he triumphs when China relents after five years and allows Li's folks to go to the U.S., to see him perform. Li is now married to an Australian ballerina with whom he has three children. I actually cried a couple of times during this movie, so unexpectedly. Hope my skiers are cutting it up out there. Peace.

Preaching to the whole e:mail group

What do you do when a person rubs you the wrong way?

I'm part of a group that has some common interests. One person in the group thinks she's in charge, and writes e:mails addressed to everyone in the group. She talks about various group members, reporting on them. She will address individual members one at a time, sharing private conversations with each, to the whole group.

And I've noticed, no one responds to her e:mails. She uses the public forum to manipulate, to try to pressure some in front of others in this way. She has a unique world view, at which she sees herself in the center. Thus firmly positioned, the world seems askew when I read about it through her eyes.

But the e:mails keep coming and coming, and those preposterous notions unchallenged just stand out there. Odd comparisons, judgments about people, guilt trips. Do I change my e:mail address, or do I delete the messages before reading them? Do I tell the person not to include me any more? Or do I just get over it?

Some people seem to constantly crave attention. They want everything their way, and want others to follow them. But the older I get, the less I can stomach certain things: gossip being one. I don't like people making a habit of talking about other people. Let people speak for themselves, and let their actions stand on their own. When the dust settles, the righteous will stand alone, and words won't mean much.