Rhian Wilkinson's Official Website

RHIAN'S SOCCER JOURNALS:

REST TIME AS ATHLETE TURNS TO AESTHETE 11th October 2007

The FIFA Women's World Cup memories are fading, but not forgotten. The Olympic Qualifiers camp will soon begin in November in British Columbia. In between, we have a chance to rest and recuperate, and my month-long break from Canadian soccer, so far, has been a great one. I have managed to change from athlete to lecturer, knitter and aesthete.

In short, I have managed to find that fine line between keeping busy and relaxing, something that I have definitely had difficulty with in the past. Of course, I still workout by running and doing a gym session most days, but I try to get these done in the morning so that I have the day free. Today though, I have decided to stay put in my pajamas, as it is gloomy and wet outside; I feel that I need an occasional day like this to balance the action-packed ones.

Something I have been keeping busy with is giving presentations and talks about soccer and the Canadian National Women's team. My most frequent listeners, (often times forced by parents or Brown Owls), are little girls like Sparks, Brownies and Girl Guides. Many years ago, I was a member of the local Guide troupe for a year, and it has been my pleasure to go out to meet these young girls. I try to plan interesting things to say to them, but I am well aware that all they really want is to try on my medals and jerseys, and have a little run outside with the soccer ball. I am talking to the Girl Guides tonight, and they are a little older, and I am looking forward to it.

Last night, I went out to talk to the Concordia University Women's soccer team. This was definitely a different experience. I surprised myself by being rather nervous. I am not much older than most of these young women, and I know that when I was their age, the last thing I ever wanted was to listen to a dreary guest speaker. So, I tried to model my presentation on some of the elements that Marnie McBean presented to us, as she is the best motivational speaker I have ever heard.

My presentation went quite well, and my sister Sara was there for support. She tells me that everything looked good, and no one saw my nervous twitching, nor heard the catch in my voice as I spoke. Actually, I think my sister had more success than I did. When she talked to the team informally after my words, she seemed to convince at least two of them that being a children’s nurse is a far better thing than being a soccer player. On this same note, please can I thank all those who proved that not just the National Women's Soccer team is generous, but their supporters too. Many people donated money for Sara to have her head "Shaved for the Cure," on 25th October, 2007. This will be a big day for her and I promise pictures will follow on my website.

One trip I took between presentations, was a swing through Ontario. I drove with my father to his condo in Mississauga last Thursday. This gave me a chance to meet up with Jill, my father's wife, for her 50th Birthday. I was pleased t5hat I could be there for the big day, as so often I miss these milestones because I am playing soccer in some far flung land. My brother, sister and I bought her a large ceramic bowl made by a local Quebec potter and I was very happy that she liked it. My parents collect art, and gifts can sometimes be a bit of a lottery.

The five or more hour drive from Montreal to Mississauga allowed me to spend time with my father and we talked pretty solidly for the whole time. Mind you, I am also learning how to knit. Driving is not something that I particularly enjoy, especially on Highway 401, so getting to spend time with my dad was a bonus, and I was able to practice my knitting too. My grandmother was a phenomenal knitter; my mother is a good knitter; and I, well I am awful, but I am working hard at least being a decent knitter. My first project has been a red scarf. It has taken me 5 days of hard labor, and many, MANY panicked moments when I thought I was going to have to unravel the thing. So much for knitting as a stress reliever. However, I am proud to say that I have finished and have been busy showing off my creation to anyone who will look and listen. I have, in fact, become so confident, that I have made a smaller scarf for my cat Calvin. He hates it, but too bad. It was a labor of love, so he is going to have to deal with it.

While I was in Ontario, I also had the chance to go to Stratford for the weekend, with my godparents. I have been to Stratford twice before, once when I was 10 years old, and once with my high school graduation class. So, this time it was good to be going as an adult, and as someone who appreciates the experience more. In three days we saw four plays: An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde; Oklahoma, the musical; Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice; and finally, King Lear, starring Brian Bedford. All four were wonderful, but my favorites were definitely Oklahoma and King Lear. They were amazingly well done, both the acting and the productions.

I had a fantastic time there, not only getting to see these great performances, but also getting to spend the weekend with Bill and Deborah and their son Ciaran, who has been one of my best friends since, well basically, since he was born. Getting to go to Stratford was a huge change of pace from what I have been used to, and I loved it. Athlete to aesthete is not too hard a transition, even for a soccer player whose team uses the long ball!! For a weekend, I was no longer a soccer player and athlete, but instead a lover of theater and a Shakespearian scholar, albeit not a very good one. I have already thanked Bill and Deborah in person, but let me do so again.

On the way home, I stopped in Mississauga again, this time for Thanksgiving dinner with Jill and my father. A Cornish hen apiece, vegetables and rice, then a walk to find "un trou normand," then cake. I shall have to train a little more, and harder, when I get back to Montreal. My friend Sarah Chan is back from Newfoundland this week, so my enjoyment of these few days of rest and recreation continues..."