I Am Yours & You Are Mine. We will always be together.

Family, kindred spirits. A calming sense that comes over one whose parenting style was as protective and honorable as Chelsea's Mom, she proved one of the most notable points women have learned in the movement toward equal rights and responsibilities: she knew when to drop it.



"'til the last dog died," the H.O.U.N.D. unleashed in Unity, she transcended the sexist, personal abuse of the sycophantic press. The winners with whom she was surrounded bore up in good humor as well.



In the long skate from Athens to Atlanta, a similar lesson was communicated to me. Inevitability is a tough one for the guys. Off in a smashing gusto of macho superiority, they put women behind them to fight it out among the heavy weights. Out in front, a fog of secrecy now separating them from the also rans, they adapt to championship status. In road racing, divisions are sporting. Trophies are awarded to 1st, 2nd, 3rd overall, to 1st through 3rd male, 1st through third female, and then onto the 1st through third in the youth, senior and "Clydesdale" classes.



I learned that if I could see them, I could catch them. Stay strong, project yourself forward. Each competitor I spotted through the fog came to see me catch them. In that moment, as they understood that I (the girl) was gaining on them, the air-puppet ballooning them into bigger-than-the-bitch image of themselves the males shared to the Apollo 8* acceptance of that which they now shared with ME: and we skated along together in the fog, exchanging mutual respect for where we both were. Neither of us could deny the dedication and qualities it took to be where we both were. And in that quiet moment of recognition to a colleague in sportsmanship, these competitors, matched mile for mile at differing pace, murmered a greeting of relief to connect with another human being who knew from experience, exactly what they felt. In a gesture of respect for each other, we skated along side by side, checking each other's mental state, encouraging and upbeat. Then, as I sensed my pace was too much for those who had used themselves up in the first 20 miles, I simply re-set myself back to my steady pace and pressed forward to penetrate the mist ahead where I knew I would spot, catch and overtake the next nearer competitor. Each time I succeeded in putting that male skater behind me, confidant in my training, skill and genetic gifts, I'd make a final glance back. ... . I'd observe that air puppet - after power to the fan is cut - flag. "Plunk." It never failed to impress me. What kept these male skaters out in front was pride... in being a guy ... as though losing to a female was a humiliation they knew would come, but needed to experience. Having survived the"inevitable," they could now accept that they were - in no way - diminished as men. They were now gentlemen, forged human, manKIND. And now a great life awaits them. A life in which women are the valued, respected resource they must be in order to secure peace and prosperity for all.

* Apollo 8: the first manned spacecraft to orbit another celestial body. During this mission, pivotal was the moment when the gravitational pull of Earth gave way to that of the moon. (Thank you, Paul. This moment you shared with me on Eighth Street in front of Grady Stadium, nurtured and supported me like few words of encouragement could. I learned so many unique concepts from Atlanta's gay community, brothers in our oddesey ((thanks, also, Betty Siegel, Kennesaw State)) to realise our best. Those headphones would be an MP3 player today.)