Baby Comes To Visit

Normally, when I'm done with work, I call my wife, Michaela, on my cell phone as I drive to the dojo, which is just a few minutes away from my office. Michaela lives about an hour from my work and the dojo, so when I stay at the dojo, we stay in close contact by phone. Today, however, she had come downtown for a meeting, and called me to meet her when she was done.

Michaela was across the street at a hotel lounge, so I left work early and went to the lounge, where I met her and her friend for a drink. I was happy to see her - it's not often that she comes downtown. I gave her a big hug and a kiss, and then we sat together and made small talk with her friend.

After a while I left to go back to my office, where I had a little more work to do before I could go to the dojo. Before I left, since she was already downtown, I invited Michaela to stay at the dojo. I told her if she showed up after class, we could go out to dinner and she could spend the night with me. Michaela was non-committal - she usually likes to go home, preferring it over the frat-boy atmosphere of the dojo - so I wasn't optimistic about seeing her later that evening.

Once I got to the dojo, I joined the beginners class. When it was over, after a short break, I started training in the advanced class. I was practicing with Ryan, when I suddenly noticed Michaela sitting on a bench next to the mat, watching the class. I grinned and waved at her as I rolled head over heels. I hadn't really expected her to show up at the dojo, so I was excited to see her.

In my enthusiasm, my first thought was to do some high falls to show off. I always do my best to impress the Baby. Uncharacteristically, however, I had second thoughts. Michaela has been worried about my back, which I recently injured. It has slowly been getting better, and I'm making regularly visits to a physical therapist. Despite my physical therapist's previous employment experience with the Spanish Inquisition, my back is improving. It is, however, still sore.

Michaela has stated on several occasions that she does not like worrying about my back. In fact, she has said that she hates worrying about me doing high falls and hurting my back. The idea slowly dawned on me that perhaps doing high falls might not be the best way to impress Michaela. I reconsidered my first impulse and decided that I wouldn't risk Michaela's ire by doing any high falls. Instead, I finished class doing very careful forward rolls and backfalls.

After class, we formed a Circle around the shomen (the altar-like area at the front of the mat where a photo of O'Sensei, the founder of Aikido, hangs). When Michaela came over to join us for meditation, I made a space for her, carefully making sure that she sat on my right - in the position of seniority (we sit in "sempai-logical" order, or order of seniority, with the senior students on the right and the junior students on the left).

When class is over, I get Sensei a glass of water. After that, I check to make sure one of the other uchi deshis is folding Sensei's hakama, and then I usually practice suwariwaza (techniques performed on one's knees) with Boris or Ryan. I don't particularly like suwariwaza - it's hard on my toes and knees - but it's on my next test, and I want to be more comfortable with it by then.

Normally, when Boris and I finish practicing, we go out to get a movie and something to eat. After eating - often a slice of pizza and a beer - we come back to the dojo, where we start jumping rope for 20 minutes, before settling down to lift weights while watching a movie. We used to force Flojo to join us when we jumped rope, but lately, as soon as the jump ropes appear, Flojo disappears and busies himself in the kitchen until we're finished.

Since Michaela was here, I quickly got Sensei a glass of water, made sure that Aurora took Sensei's hakama, and, after kissing Michaela hello, went upstairs to change out of my gi (the white pajamas worn by martial artists) and hakama (the culotte-like pants worn by Aikidoists). Michaela asked Ryan and Dylan to join us for dinner, and we all went out to a nearby Mexican restaurant for margaritas and enchiladas. When we finished, we returned to the dojo and put a DVD of The Family Guy on as background entertainment while we jumped rope.

I jumped rope for about 8 minutes. I did okay, but I still trip up. "I want to try jumping rope." Said Michaela. "I used to do that a lot when I was in 3d grade." I gave her the rope. Michaela started jumping. First she skipped effortlessly in place. Then she crossed her hands back and forth a few times. For good measure, she started twirling the rope backwards, and then, as if that wasn't enough, she crossed her hands back and forth while twirling the rope backwards. "That's not so hard." She said, as she handed me the rope. "Time for bed." I said.