Rustbelt Rocks

What is it that makes writing vignettes about India so appealing, yet writing vignettes about good old fashioned US of A home feels like it’s too plain to even put on paper. Maybe the audiance can relate with a bit more of a critical eye and those people just walking past or sitting on the road seem to be a bit too similar, yet there is a story in there somewhere.

There is a story at the bouldering wall. I have two rings of athletic tape on my finers to cover scars — one the right pinky’s middle knuckle, the other the left third finger’s lower one. Were I a more dedicated climber, perhaps I would feel comfortable calling it my wedding band to the wall. As it is, the chalk feels almost foreign, and my fingers are hot from weeks of inconsistent time on the wall, following months of even less frequent climbs, following years of none at all.

There is inspiration all around. The bouldering wall sits in the front left section fo the warehouse, the giant metal garage-type doors to the back, blue yoga mats on sponging up and down as people dance toward their starting hold or leap back to earth. Looking furhter down the cave of metal buttressed by the false rock, the twenty top-ropes seem to ripple in a type of chaotic unison, like they are blowing in the wind while anchoring a massive ship to shore — just the people climbing and falling and climbing.

Pink route. Both hands on, pulled toward the center of the wall, switch over the left hand, staying crouched low to the ground. Feel it until comfortable, right hand further to the right. Walk your feet right, get them high. Left hand up to the underhand jug, feet high, right hand up to the higher underhand sloper. Feet higher, drive the left knee toward the wall, flag the right out, then reach with the left — hold it hold it. Drive with the right hand feet on feet on, feet on,

This is where I fall. A. and M. made it look so easy. A. even climbed in crocs (I called them croquies, yet J. corrected me — different style venue). My fingers are flexing at the thought.