shaken, not stirred

Those who know me, know that I love a good debate. It’s been years since I competed in debate, years since I did any coaching. I’ve thought about getting back into it…perhaps lending a hand with the High School debate team (assuming that our kids EVER go back to school….8th school day of strike). Several years ago, I answered an ad for debate judges for a neighboring town. The coach asked (in email) what experience I had with debate. Um, yeah, I’ve got skills. Turns out, this guy is a big fan of my debate coach, Smith…he had read several articles that Smith had written in speech & debate newsletters. Anyway, time & distance conflicts prevented me from judging for him. Bummer. It’s tough to get a debate going with a non-debator…they just think you’re arguing with them. Still, it’s fun to stir things up now & again. Think Matt & I on the hot seat in Anabo’s class. Good times.

I had a nickname in debate…and not a friendly one. I don’t really remember when "the Ice Queen" became my moniker. It was typically used by 2 groups of people – those that I’d already beaten, and those that I was about to beat. I can’t tell you who came up with the name, or what their thinking behind it was…I’ve always imagined that it had a little "cold blooded killer" element. The bottom line is that, in debate, no one could shake me. People tried to stir things up, and I matched them point for point. I remember one round in particular – Jonathan Penrose tried to stir things up by calling me "Katy" in cross-x. That’s my "real" nickname, and I NEVER used it in debate…too friendly. Without missing a beat, I answered his question by calling him "Johnny." This was a blue blazer wearing, penny loafered kind of guy…no one ever called him Johnny. I won that round.

All of this "back in the day" chatter brings me to this…I am not an Ice Queen. I can be shaken. And in the midst of someone trying to stir things up…this girl can get her feelings hurt. The line between laughter & tears is the kind of line that you can’t always see until you’ve crossed it. Not to worry…everything’s okay. Just needed a little blog therapy this morning.