Seems I never really stuck with anything sporty when I was young. My daddy was a baseball pitcher back in the 30's-40's. He could have signed to the majors but, number 1, way back then playing professional sports wasn't at all like what is today. Maybe that is a good thing. And secondly, Maynard's really didn't leave Corntassel. Or at least very far, permanently.
My brother Gary Maynard. 1966'ish
In high school my brother Gary played football for the Vonore Blue Devils. My sister Sharon played basketball for the Vonore Blue Devils and my sister Lynette was a cheerleader for the....Vonore Blue Devils.
(Check back for photos of my beautiful sisters and their sports. They've not shared those yet.)
My sister Sharon. 1969
Me? I just seemed to flit around. One year with batton. One or two years with clogging. (I really loved clogging.) Couple years middle school cheering. One year at ballet. I'm not sure but maybe the age difference had something to play in the fact I wasn't involved in sports as they were. The three were in high school and enjoying things at the same time. I was 20 years younger than Gary. Lynette was closest to my age and she was fifteen years older than I. So in life experiences I was much like an only child. I did have my nephew Jamey. He is 10 months older than I and at our house practically all the time. But we went to different schools till fifth grade when I switched from Vonore to Madisonville.
Batton recital at Hiwassee
College. I was around 4????
I was spot on! Ready to go! Trying to stand just so.... perfect.
My 5th grade year, my first year at Madisonville Middle School, and the first grade of the four year middle school, I decided to try out for the basketball team. Not really sure why. I wanted to make it so bad! I had never played in my life but practiced everyday for the two week tryouts.
When I didn't make the cut Coach Tate came up to me and said, "Marna. You're just too little this year. Make sure to try out again next year. Okay?".
It felt good to have him tell me that, in so many words, being a stick who weighed probably 45 pounds was why I didn't make the team. Not the fact that I was a gangly, little, tiny, two left footed mess of a girl. I never tried out for basketball again. Maybe I just wanted to cling to the myth in my head that I could be a basketball star if I weren't so small, not from the fact that I was very un-athletic and my best sports were badminton, rolly bat and four person baseball. Although gangly looking at those.
I believe that maybe the reason I stuck with no hobby, other than reading, is perfectionism. If I wasn't great at something the first time I tried it I didn't continue past the season I signed up for. I expected too much of myself. I expected to be perfect even if it was my first go at trying something new.
Ballet. My ballet recital. My memory has always been horrible, but I remember getting to Hiwassee College for the recital. All the other little girls had makeup on. A lot! Stage makeup I suppose.
My mom noticed I was upset and I was worried because I didn't have makeup like the other girls. Mom didn't wear make up other than lipstick. Momma pulled her lipstick from her purse and said, "Marna, come here". Mom took the lipstick and put some on my lips and cheeks and a bit on my eyelids.
Momma always made everything better. As mothers should. After 23 years I still miss her. There are so many times I wish she were here, beside me, to pull out a tube of lipstick to make it all better......
