Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS WRITER
I hadn’t had a date in 7 years. Who am I kidding? I hadn’t had SEX in 7 years.
No banging, no bonking, no bushwacking. The train had left the station, people!
It was definitely time to get back out there. I just didn’t know it at the time.
It was 48 degrees as I peddled my way along the bumpy road in Thailand, pushing my way though the overwhelming desire to stop. I was joining 50 entrepreneurs getting their lycra on and riding 500 kms in 5 days to raise money for Thai children without parents.
I had put in a fair amount of training in the month leading up to the ride. I lost 7 kgs and got myself fit enough to get through each day. I was slow but I was doing it. It was a good effort I thought, considering I hadn’t put by butt on a bike seat for about 10 years.
On the third night of the ride, after an extreme day climbing hills, we sat down after dinner to get to know each other better. We were each asked to share our motivation for doing the ride.
The stories were confronting and they just kept coming. The woman whose grandfather had taken away her self-belief through abuse; the man who had neglected his body by putting on 60kgs. They were sharing how the commitment to the ride and the Thai children had changed the course of their lives.
It was all so humbling and slightly uncomfortable at the same time.
As the evening progressed, I hadn’t shared my story yet and I was getting nervous. What WAS my story, anyway? What had MY journey been about?
I was second last to share. As I headed to the front of the room, I kept changing my mind. How could I be sincere and funny and real and make an impact? I had this real desire to do a good job.
Then the words raced out of my mouth….
“I have two amazing IVF anonymous donor children and my life for the past seven years has been about providing for them. And in doing so, I have neglected myself. Coming on the ride was a selfish thing in many ways. Taking time to get fit and having time away from the kids. Doing something for me”.
It was all true. I wanted an adventure just for me. And it was working. I really WAS feeling great. I felt strong. I felt sexy. I felt like the best version of myself.
And something strange was happening. Attention was coming my way. Gorgeous men were laughing with me, spending time with me, riding back to support me when I was at the back of the pack.
This attention and flirting and support from the other riders was awakening something within me.
Now being the second last to share my story that night, there was polite attention but it was getting late. People were a bit distracted. My story so far was nice but nothing special….
I was getting anxious but I continued.
“So in looking after my children and not myself, I have not been dating. In fact I have had not date a SINGLE date in seven years.”
Polite smiles from a few people, some surprised looks but others were gazing at the door.
I had to built it up; make an impact. What could I say?
I deepened my voice, slowed myself down and took a deep breath.
“So I pledge to EVERYONE here tonight… that I am going to go home…. and get LAID!”
A big cheer erupted in the room.
I had done it!
Oh no, What had I done?
Made a commitment to 50 people I hardly knew that I would be GETTING IT ON back in Melbourne!
Geez. I didn’t even know any single men…
Three days after returning to Melbourne I posted one word on our riders Facebook page.
“Tick”.
Everyone know what it meant.