Life is a Highway

[Hooping.org columnist Lara Eastburn hears the last siren call of Summer.]

by Lara Eastburn

Ah, the last throes of summer can make one restless. You can almost feel the weight of school, work, holidays with family, and bulky winter coats bearing down upon us. One starts to realize that, soon, those of us in the Northern Hemisphere will be settling in for a long, indoor wait before we get another chance at short-sleeve fun in the sun with our hoops. Right now, many hoopers are traveling. Some are making their way to the Harbin Hoop Jam and/or gearing up for Hoopcamp on the West Coast. Others are en route to the Return to Roots Hoop Gathering in the Northeast. But even if these events aren’t on your agenda, that doesn’t mean we can’t create our own last-minute hooping travel adventure before the stresses of a long winter settle in. In my book, the best cure is always found by surrendering to the urge for an impromptu last-ditch summer adventure road trip. I get excited just thinking about it! And why not? We can leave today and be back by Monday. It’s our last chance! What’s to stop us? Here’s why we all should throw a change of clothes and a hoop in the car and hit the road with our windows down, one last time this year.

In my social networks I’ve noticed a lot of these spontaneous adrenaline-fueled trips happening in the last few weeks. A hooper here goes to visit a hooper there – perhaps they’re old friends, perhaps they’ve never even met! A weekend of awesomeness and hilarity ensues. Fun is had by all, bonds are made or strengthened, and the itch to take advantage of Summer’s last glorious gasps of breath are duly and sublimely satisfied. I want that too, don’t you?

While some seem to have spontaneity and a yearning for the road woven into our DNA, I know it’s harder for others of us to just get up and go. While most of us don’t have to look hard for an excuse or a responsibility that seems to bar the way, those things will still be there when you get back, whether you surrender to Summer’s last siren call or not, won’t they? Mine certainly will.

Still looking for one more gentle push that will get you out the door? Why not make good on one of those “We should really get together sometime soon” threats you make so often? Just go! Your commitments will understand. Throw a hoop, a tent, and an iPod in the car and meet your long-lost hooping buddy in the middle somewhere (one of my personal favorites). Buy a solo ticket to that out-of-state concert you’ve been dying to see, or even just day-trip it to that weekly hoop-jam that’s always just a little too far out of the way to be “convenient.” Don’t have wheels? Call up a hoop friend that does and go for it!

When we throw caution to the wind and press rubber to pavement, we make room for new experience and fresh inspiration. We open the door to the delightfully unexpected. We’re not alone, you know! You’ve got your hoop and adventure running through your veins! And, as one of my favorite bathroom-stall philosophers once wrote, “Life may be short, fast, and hard, but boy, are the stories worth it!”

Wishing you all safe and amazing travels, my friends. Godspeed. And may our paths cross sooner than later.

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Hooping.org columnist Lara Eastburn has been dancing in meadows and singing with the moon while spinning in circles for eons at Superhooper.org. Beyond commenting here, you can also discuss this and other topics related to the Hooposophy for living in Hooping.org’s Hooposophy Group and Forum. Lara is also the planting and gardening force behind discovering our hooping community roots at The Hooping Family Tree Project.

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