Derby. I'm In.

I am home. And no longer a Derby Virgin. Nipped down to Indy this weekend to see Naptown bout the Chicago Outfit (yes, I can say things like this now) and went knowing I was going to love this, very excited to see my friends skate, and beyond anticipating how cool seeing live and up close was going to be.

I have to tell you honestly: It far exceeded my expectations.

To start, the girl about to unzip her shirt and photobomb me, I met earlier in a TJ Max while buying a purse, with another Derby Friend. Derby is like that. These things happen. You make friends fast. And hard. And truly. (Being no good with names, I can't name her. But she is my friend now)

I want to tell you everything, but there was far too much, and there aren't exactly words. The best I can say is that it's very like the first time I got Covered In Bees. You aren't the same person.

If you are lucky enough to attend a bout: Sit Suicide. This means you sit directly on the track, just out of bounds. I took this shot. Right there. No walls. No safe. You're there. Best place to be really.

I know a LOT more about Derby, it's rules and why what happens happens than I did. I want to know more.

Here's the first pic by amazing photographer Tom Klubins. I love him too and meant to adopt him as a brother and didin't formalize it, but we know. That's Joan of Dark warming up in a Lorraine a Malena Tee Shirt.

Derby relationships are like that. I now have a family there. It's fast, and it's hard. Much like Derby. I love every women on that team. Each of you. And will never forget the Afterparty, where you showed your love for me, all 20 of you. Thankyou, Joan of Dark, I will not forget that. Shady Lane my friend, you too, Amooze Boosche, and Cheerio who planned to make my evening perfect. And several others I will never forget.

(the bruises will fade and be assured, I will not be forgetting your birthdays)

Another photo by Tom Klubins here. These women can SKATE. It's like ballet, like poetry, like music. It's hard, fast and all consuming. It's giving everything and hitting hard. It's loving in the very most way I've ever seen in my entire life. It's passion and will taken: All. The. Way.

It's the coolest thing I have ever seen.

And yes. I most dangerous. I saw a skater go down, not in a general way, across the audience, from the stands, but 5 feet from me. She got hit, and not sure what happened, but she was down.

Saw her face.

Knew, and felt the bone break. Felt it happen to me. I was there, saw her face when it happened. Spent an entirnity, 5 seconds or so, experiencing that completely until the refs called it and every skater went down on a knee, stopping the bout.

Katya Lookin, met you earlier that day, thought we could be friends, know it now. You need anything, I've got your back.

But that is what Derby is tho. A whole lot of people, of family, that is THERE. Don't matter what. At least with this team, and the people I have met so far, that is what's going on. I may have been lucky, meeting the people I've met. But I know I'm lucky.

I've got Joan of Dark, Dill Hero, Jane Ire, Cheerio (Kerrie!) and everyone, all of you, I've met this weekend.


There are rules about after parties, and pictures, and telling stories, but I will stretch them now and leave you will this, and my Joan of Dark (whose fault this Derby and me thing is entirely)

Me: What was that shot you just did?

Her: Don't know. What's Patron?

Me: Oh dear...

Love, and love, Derby,
Quiche Medeadly