Yes, there was an Elvis impersonator.
Yes, he did sing "Viva Las Vegas."
Yes, the last time I heard that song, Fannie was singing a rendition of it in the Stony Point yoga studio for my send-off class.
Yes, that was ten weeks ago!
Yes, there were showgirls...two of them to be precise...escorting Bikram into the ballroom for graduation as only he can enter a room.
Yes, there was a "mafia" type shiny silver suit with matching fedora. Anything else would've been a disappointment to us all.
Yes, there was a kind and sweet exchange with the "tough guy" who guided us through the past nine weeks of Hell.
Yes, there was a certificate with my name on it.
Yes, my dear husband and sweet girl arrived safely in Las Vegas to rescue me.
Yes, there was a lovely reception after graduation.
Yes, there were a few more tears as I said good-bye to my dear friends, those with whom I share a special bond unlike any other.
Yes, I will miss a certain staff member or two.
Yes, I will miss Bikram as well as his music and especially the "lonely" song which he sometimes sings after class is over if he sees someone looking particularly sad.
Yes, I am terrified of teaching my first class!
On the other hand...
No, I did not get sentimental as I left the hotel.
No, I do not ever think I'll feel the same way about the word "Hilton" again.
No, I will not miss Las Vegas.
No, I will not miss the noise of slot machines or hotel lobby 80's soundtrack music constantly playing over every speaker in the place.
No, I will not miss the smell of cigarette smoke seeping through the adjoining hotel room.
No, I will not miss scaly and dry skin (and nose and eyes).
No, I will not miss three showers per day.
No, I will not miss the lecture hall CHAIRS!! They are the true "torture chamber."
No, I will not miss taking a cab to the grocery store once a week for supplies.
No, I will not EVER drink Gatorade again in my life.
No, I will not miss worrying about drinking constantly to replace fluids and electrolytes, or eating constantly to ensure that energy is sufficient to survive the next yoga class.
No, I will not miss two yoga classes each day, every day.
No, I don't believe that the dialogue will just "come out of my mouth" when I teach my first class.
No, I don't think that I have ever in my entire life been more exhausted mentally as well as physically.
And, finally...
Yes, I can now say that "My name is Marcia. I am your yoga teacher."
:)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!! I will miss your blog. Thank you for sharing. I am looking forward to taking one of your classes soon! :-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Marcia!!! (I'll confess, I totally cried my eyes out when I left the hotel, but I'll say it was because I was saying goodbye to my roommate, who was my best friend here.) Great list, great blog, maybe I'll actually READ it now that I have time.
ReplyDeleteYou ARE a yoga teacher!!!!!!!! Yippee!!
xoxo Juliana aka High School Boy
Marcia -- I am just catching up on your blog - loved it. The crying reminded my of your first months ( or year ) in Geneva. Was that a lifetime ago! Lisa Pf.
ReplyDelete