"Hotshots" Memories

#1 Jay and a dozen little girls in "leos" were walking from the beams to the floor. One 5 year old, who was particularly fond of Jay, grabbed his arm as they walked then began to hang on it. He glanced down at her and said "do a pullover." She looked at him quizzically. He held out his forearm and repeated "On my arm. Do a pullover on my arm." She grabbed his forearm with both hands, did a pullover and finished perched on his arm like a parrot with a huge grin. Then he said, "Now cast to handstand." So she did as all the "hotshots" watched in amazement as he carried her around the floor in a handstand on his arm.

#2 Once my daughter and I sat down to watch my son's class. Jay walked up to her and gave her permission to go on the equipment to get some extra practice. She replied sadly that she wasn't wearing her leo. Jay answered her, while smiling at me, "Just ask your mom to buy you one." (There is a cabinet full of leotards for sale by the front door.) Then he explained that she needed an "emergency leo" to keep in the vehicle at all times in case she ever got the chance to practice. Thanks to Jay, Nicole got a new "emergency leo" that day, the beginning of an ever-growing collection!

#3 Saturday Hotshots classes are strength training made fun with races and competitions between the girls. Most of the girls are very self-driven and competitive, but the youngest little girl - just 4 at the time - often dreaded these activities. One competition required two girls to get on either end of the parallel bars facing each other and hold positions above the bars as long as they could. Whoever came below the bar was eliminated from the game and had to sit on one mat while the winner went to the opposite mat to continue on to the next round. There was an odd number of girls, so the youngest was left with no one to compete against. So Jay shouted, "I'll compete against you, Alana." In one fluid movement, he grabbed the bar, hit the position, then let go. He made a huge slapping sound as he hit the mat below startling everyone in the gym. Laughter erupted. Round after round, Jay's falls grew crazier and more dramatic as Alana giggled while holding her positions.