Oct 20 – Book Signing at EWU Bookstore (Homecoming)
Date: Saturday Oct 20, 2012
Time: 12:30-1:30pm
Location: Eastern Washington University Bookstore – 152 Pence Union Bldg
Cheney WA, 99004
Do what you love
My teammate texted me yesterday to see if I was going to play in the Reignman Classic Basketball tournament this weekend. Our team plays every year.
Last year, I played in the tournament on the day of my book release party. I played in two games and then made myself presentable to do readings from my memoir, Back on the Court. I guess it seems appropriate, as the book is about finding happiness, finding love and finding my way back to the basketball court. A place I love to be.
This tournament, for me, is the closest thing to being back in college. Most players are ex-college athletes and the games are intense, fast paced and competitive. But most of the players are also half my age, and I was beginning to wonder if it might be time to hang up the high tops for this tournament. But then I got the text, the reassurance that I was wanted and I was glad, because there is nothing I like better than being on the court.
That’s when it hit me, what was I thinking, considering not playing? Playing basketball, doing this thing I love, is what helped save my life when I had nothing else to live for. There will be a time to hang up my shoes, when I can’t beat my man down the court on defense and I can’t catch the ball (because too many of my finger have been broken), but until then I will do what I love for as long as I can.
Listen to your heart and make time for the things you love.
Nov 17 – Book Signing at Northwest Art & Frame (Holiday Open House)
Date: Saturday – November 17, 2012
Time: 3-5:30
Location: Northwest Art & Frame – 4733 California AVE SW, Seattle, WA 98116
Destiny
This summer we acquired a 10-month-old puppy. Bruno joined our family after we found him on a freeway, while on vacation in Montana. I had always wanted to get a friend for our dog Sassy (an 8-year-old Boxer who was still in puppy mode), but my husband thought I was crazy.
Bruno happens to be the second boxer that I’ve found on a freeway, the first was a white Boxer, that we named Bumper because he had dodged so many cars on Highway 509, before I, nine months pregnant with my son, ran out into the 3 lane road to stop traffic. Though he got along with our dog Ramsay (also a Boxer), with a heavy heart, we found him a home and said goodbye. (after all, we were already about to add a second child to the family)
After finding Bruno, we searched veterinarians offices, put up signs, called the sheriff and the radio station, and had a pet rescue volunteer take care of him for 3 days. Of course I wanted to keep him from the moment I spotted his rail thin body loping across the freeway like a deer, from the moment I hollered at Jason to stop the car so I could walk the side of the road and coax him in, but we were on vacation, he probably had a home and we lived in the city with a small yard.
“We don’t have enough room for two big dogs,” Jason had always said.
I grew up with boxers. My parents have had twelve? Thirteen? More dogs than I can count without pulling out my childhood photo albums. I know they started with Old Prince, the dog my dad brought to the United States from Austria after marrying my […]
Meet Sonya
Meet Sonya
Sonya Elliott’s memoir, Back on the Court: A Young Woman’s Triumphant Return to Life, Love & Basketball, is her story of finding hope in the wake of tragedy after she and her fiancé were hit by a train. She blogs about writing, basketball, and life and is currently working on a Young Adult Novel and a Non-Fiction Coaching book. Stories of her career as a fashion model are woven through her memoir, as both the Soloflex and Easy Spirit Shoes commercials were filmed during that time period, and this unique and intriguing business continues to be a part of her life.
Sonya played basketball at Eastern Washington University and was a starter for the Big Sky Champion team that went to the 1987 NCAA tournament. She coached for almost 25 years and was voted Seattle Times Coach of the Year, Seattle Officials Women’s Basketball Association Coach of the Year, and twice voted Metro League Coach of the Year. She loves the game of basketball and is thankful, not only for her husband and kids but for her ability to continue to get back on the court.
Blog
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Holiday Spirit
I’m not quite in the Holiday spirit but I’m getting there. Yesterday my husband put some lights on the house and we got our Christmas tree up. I even had hot spiced wine mulling (this ritual actually starts the day after Thanksgiving). I don’t drink it every day, just let its flavor permeate the house (and cover the odor of two large dogs).
I grew up celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve and decorating a day or two before. This was normal, so I’m actually a little ahead of schedule. Today I will spend some time getting the rest of the house more festive, which might start with getting it clean, and then adding garland, the Three Kings and miniature Christmas room that my grandma made, the Annalee Elves and Santas that my mom and dad have given me over the years and […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Sick and Tired
Two weeks ago I felt awesome. Now I feel like I’m 80 years old. I’ve been fighting vertigo, painful joints (maybe that has something to do with too many jammed fingers on the basketball court) and I’m just plain tired. Sometimes getting old sucks.
Do you ever have those days? Weeks?
WRITING PROMPT: Write about a time when you were sick or feeling down, then write about a time when you felt awesome.
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