Post by Caroline Machado on Oct 1, 2024 2:52:55 GMT
It all seemed like a typical Saturday evening for Caroline Machado.
The weather was warm and comfortable as she drover her Ford Maverick pickup into an Arlington-area Kroger to go on a grocery run. Yet on this seemingly random day, she found herself looking down at her phone and at her WhatsApp, hoping and praying that RAM responded back after she had sent him a voice note the other day. All she wanted to know was how he was doing and if he was in a better spirit after the Japan tour. Yet in her momentary lapse inside the Kroger parking lot, she had become unaware of the other cars in front of her until...
[BONK!]
"OYYY...!! Droga! Droga!! DROGA!!!"
Caroline snapped out of her distracted state upon hearing the sounds of fenders banging fenders, broken headlight glass, and tires squealing. Even in the most heated of moments, she rarely resorted to using colorful metaphors; even saying the mild "damn" was a bit of a struggle for her. Yet this time was different, and as she stepped out of her Maverick and saw the resulting fender-bender, she shook her head. The male driver of the 2018 Jeep Compass she hit stepped outside and assessed the situation. Caroline was completely shaken by the minor accident and approached him.
"AHH!! I caused this! I got distracted!! Sorry! Sorry! I'm so--"
The other driver, who appeared to be around the age of thirty, was quick to give her comfort and reassurance.
"It's alright. Really...it's gonna be okay. Fender-benders are just as much a part of life as going grocery shopping."
Caroline sighed, embarrassed by the whole ordeal.
"I...umm, I...what is your insurance?"
The Compass driver chuckled.
"Geico. I've been in an accident like this one before and I haven't seen a raise in my premiums."
The Brazilian nodded.
"Ahem...I have Progressive. Am I in trouble?!"
The male driver shook his head.
"Well, my friend...you're not in trouble. You're dead where you stand."
He laughed out loud before extending his hand.
"Name's Mackey, Ronnie Mackey. I teach civics at Arlington High School."
Caroline sheepishly shook Ronnie's hand.
"I'm sorry again, Mr. Mackey. This was my fault -- got distracted looking at my phone, and--"
"Hey, don't worry about it -- same thing happened to me when I got into my first fender-bender. We'll get through this together, okay? And...call me Ronnie."
Caroline nodded as she and Ronnie added each other to their WhatsApp chat listings. Ronnie, after taking a quick peek at Caroline's phone, noticed RAM's entry and chimed in.
"Got a boyfriend there...if you don't mind me asking...?"
Caroline took a deep breath and paused for a moment.
"...it's...ugh, complicated…"
She bowed her head.
"...I just wanted to check on him, that's all…"
Pause.
"...he hasn't replied back to the voice note I sent him. I hope nothing bad has happened to him…"
Ronnie nodded.
"Understandable. My ex-wife tried to take the whole damn planet in the divorce. Wanted to leave me with nothin' left but my bones…"
Ronnie cleared his throat, realizing that he was getting a little ahead of himself.
"Anyways, I've got to mosey on home. The ex is bringing my daughter over for a weekend visit. We'll figure out insurance some day, alright?"
Caroline nodded warmly, watching as Ronnie slowly pulled away from the scene. She surveyed the busted front-left headlight and slightly crumpled bumper before mustering a facepalm, but in that moment, she couldn't help but smile on the inside. To her, Ronnie sounded very friendly and receptive to her.
She began to eke out a slight grin, perhaps knowing that everything was going to be just fine.
---
"Hi!!!
I can't believe it's already October!! The weather is turning cooler, the leaves are changing colors, and the holiday season is not too far away! Yet lately...I've found myself struggling to compete at my best. Tytus Rost showed me that there's a new level to my game that I'm figuring out how to acheive! Now...it seems like the people at Imperial have decided to book me against the Women's World Champion, Charlotte Shimizu, to close out another Odyssey.
In that particular moment, I'm often reminded of one simple thing:
Being mindful of the fact that this opportunity is a rare treat -- and once it's gone, it's gone!
There are no second chances -- or so the Bible says!!
Hehehe...AHEM!! Sorry!!!
Look...everyone in this company knows what I want to do. I want to become a Champion again -- whether it'd be Women's World or Gladiatorix. Two years ago, I was able to make the climb up to IWF's tallest mountain. Yet all I heard from those who aren't my friends was this...that I didn't earn my place. That I didn't beat the current Champion in order to take it from her -- and they'd be right to a fault, being that it was under fatal four-way rules!
Don't you think that would give us a little common ground?!
Yea!!! I think so!!!!
It bothers me, very much, to hear that people hate on you because you didn't beat Jennie for the title. While I, for one, want to know about what happened to her leading up to that match, that is neither here nor there. Right now, you are at the highest point of your career and will stop at nothing to ensure you retain against Shea down the road.
That reminds me what I went through when I won the Women's World title back in 2022. I didn't pin Shelly Diamond to 'legitly' end her record reign, they've often told me. I spent an entire two months or so pondering that instead of, perhaps, allowing myself to celebrate what I accomplished! You know it...I carry a picture of Jennie with me at all times as a souvenir -- a reminder to never let the smallest things get into my head!!
A reminder that you never know if a volleyball is gonna spike you in the face until it's too late!!!
Hehehe...ahem, sorry.
The point is, Charlie...a high moment like this isn't gonna last forever. That's why you treat every day like it's a championship match -- because eventually, you're gonna wind up losing! As someone who's struggled in the past, more often than not, I've often found that losing teaches you more about living this life than success ever will! You know that, the more you hold onto that title, the more you start to play the game aggressively because, as you once said, your time is coming to an end. Right now, Charlie...you might not be facing Shea, but I want you to treat this match as if you ARE facing her!
And that means one thing -- never being afraid to lose.
I want you to be at your best, Charlie. I want you to mantenha sua posição and throw everything at me. Yet mark my words: I will not go easy on you. For there is only one gear that matters above everything else -- and that's warp speed!! I will not make compromises or take shortcuts. I will not placate or allow myself to be consumed by doubt. I will do whatever it takes -- short of compromising the rules -- in order to beat you.
For this is one opportunity that I'm not gonna pass up.
An opportunity to teach future opponents the very things that make us into something more than just the sum of our own parts:
Dever. Honra. Respeito.
Duty. Honor. Respect."
The weather was warm and comfortable as she drover her Ford Maverick pickup into an Arlington-area Kroger to go on a grocery run. Yet on this seemingly random day, she found herself looking down at her phone and at her WhatsApp, hoping and praying that RAM responded back after she had sent him a voice note the other day. All she wanted to know was how he was doing and if he was in a better spirit after the Japan tour. Yet in her momentary lapse inside the Kroger parking lot, she had become unaware of the other cars in front of her until...
[BONK!]
"OYYY...!! Droga! Droga!! DROGA!!!"
Caroline snapped out of her distracted state upon hearing the sounds of fenders banging fenders, broken headlight glass, and tires squealing. Even in the most heated of moments, she rarely resorted to using colorful metaphors; even saying the mild "damn" was a bit of a struggle for her. Yet this time was different, and as she stepped out of her Maverick and saw the resulting fender-bender, she shook her head. The male driver of the 2018 Jeep Compass she hit stepped outside and assessed the situation. Caroline was completely shaken by the minor accident and approached him.
"AHH!! I caused this! I got distracted!! Sorry! Sorry! I'm so--"
The other driver, who appeared to be around the age of thirty, was quick to give her comfort and reassurance.
"It's alright. Really...it's gonna be okay. Fender-benders are just as much a part of life as going grocery shopping."
Caroline sighed, embarrassed by the whole ordeal.
"I...umm, I...what is your insurance?"
The Compass driver chuckled.
"Geico. I've been in an accident like this one before and I haven't seen a raise in my premiums."
The Brazilian nodded.
"Ahem...I have Progressive. Am I in trouble?!"
The male driver shook his head.
"Well, my friend...you're not in trouble. You're dead where you stand."
He laughed out loud before extending his hand.
"Name's Mackey, Ronnie Mackey. I teach civics at Arlington High School."
Caroline sheepishly shook Ronnie's hand.
"I'm sorry again, Mr. Mackey. This was my fault -- got distracted looking at my phone, and--"
"Hey, don't worry about it -- same thing happened to me when I got into my first fender-bender. We'll get through this together, okay? And...call me Ronnie."
Caroline nodded as she and Ronnie added each other to their WhatsApp chat listings. Ronnie, after taking a quick peek at Caroline's phone, noticed RAM's entry and chimed in.
"Got a boyfriend there...if you don't mind me asking...?"
Caroline took a deep breath and paused for a moment.
"...it's...ugh, complicated…"
She bowed her head.
"...I just wanted to check on him, that's all…"
Pause.
"...he hasn't replied back to the voice note I sent him. I hope nothing bad has happened to him…"
Ronnie nodded.
"Understandable. My ex-wife tried to take the whole damn planet in the divorce. Wanted to leave me with nothin' left but my bones…"
Ronnie cleared his throat, realizing that he was getting a little ahead of himself.
"Anyways, I've got to mosey on home. The ex is bringing my daughter over for a weekend visit. We'll figure out insurance some day, alright?"
Caroline nodded warmly, watching as Ronnie slowly pulled away from the scene. She surveyed the busted front-left headlight and slightly crumpled bumper before mustering a facepalm, but in that moment, she couldn't help but smile on the inside. To her, Ronnie sounded very friendly and receptive to her.
She began to eke out a slight grin, perhaps knowing that everything was going to be just fine.
---
"Hi!!!
I can't believe it's already October!! The weather is turning cooler, the leaves are changing colors, and the holiday season is not too far away! Yet lately...I've found myself struggling to compete at my best. Tytus Rost showed me that there's a new level to my game that I'm figuring out how to acheive! Now...it seems like the people at Imperial have decided to book me against the Women's World Champion, Charlotte Shimizu, to close out another Odyssey.
In that particular moment, I'm often reminded of one simple thing:
Being mindful of the fact that this opportunity is a rare treat -- and once it's gone, it's gone!
There are no second chances -- or so the Bible says!!
Hehehe...AHEM!! Sorry!!!
Look...everyone in this company knows what I want to do. I want to become a Champion again -- whether it'd be Women's World or Gladiatorix. Two years ago, I was able to make the climb up to IWF's tallest mountain. Yet all I heard from those who aren't my friends was this...that I didn't earn my place. That I didn't beat the current Champion in order to take it from her -- and they'd be right to a fault, being that it was under fatal four-way rules!
Don't you think that would give us a little common ground?!
Yea!!! I think so!!!!
It bothers me, very much, to hear that people hate on you because you didn't beat Jennie for the title. While I, for one, want to know about what happened to her leading up to that match, that is neither here nor there. Right now, you are at the highest point of your career and will stop at nothing to ensure you retain against Shea down the road.
That reminds me what I went through when I won the Women's World title back in 2022. I didn't pin Shelly Diamond to 'legitly' end her record reign, they've often told me. I spent an entire two months or so pondering that instead of, perhaps, allowing myself to celebrate what I accomplished! You know it...I carry a picture of Jennie with me at all times as a souvenir -- a reminder to never let the smallest things get into my head!!
A reminder that you never know if a volleyball is gonna spike you in the face until it's too late!!!
Hehehe...ahem, sorry.
The point is, Charlie...a high moment like this isn't gonna last forever. That's why you treat every day like it's a championship match -- because eventually, you're gonna wind up losing! As someone who's struggled in the past, more often than not, I've often found that losing teaches you more about living this life than success ever will! You know that, the more you hold onto that title, the more you start to play the game aggressively because, as you once said, your time is coming to an end. Right now, Charlie...you might not be facing Shea, but I want you to treat this match as if you ARE facing her!
And that means one thing -- never being afraid to lose.
I want you to be at your best, Charlie. I want you to mantenha sua posição and throw everything at me. Yet mark my words: I will not go easy on you. For there is only one gear that matters above everything else -- and that's warp speed!! I will not make compromises or take shortcuts. I will not placate or allow myself to be consumed by doubt. I will do whatever it takes -- short of compromising the rules -- in order to beat you.
For this is one opportunity that I'm not gonna pass up.
An opportunity to teach future opponents the very things that make us into something more than just the sum of our own parts:
Dever. Honra. Respeito.
Duty. Honor. Respect."
Well howdy there pardner.