Spectating: a sport

There are a few rules for the sport of spectating. Don't throw things or say obnoxious things to the performer. I don't know that this one is always adhered to faithfully, but for the most part, it's a nice one to follow.

Another important rule is to show up, ready to watch. And, it's a good idea to stay until the bitter end, no matter how insignificant it may be. Who knows, if you leave early, you might miss the half-court shot that went through the hoop or the puck that found its way to the goal in the last 30 seconds.

In the latter case, I missed the whole contest cuz we had company. It's terrible to be a spectator and learn that you missed one of the great Olympic hockey games of history, trumped only by the 1980 Miracle on Ice, which you did happen to see and where you did let a tear or two drop during the watching.

I listened to my own words yesterday and decided they were pretty profound. I said them while spectating---with a butt warmer in my chair. I was glad to have that butt warmer because I'd already spectated for more than an hour and was shivering because I'd left my coat in the car.

When you spectate, you should come prepared for all conditions that could make you uncomfortable. I failed in that rule. And, knowing how important it is to show up and watch until the bitter end, I was not going to leave beforehand to take care of my comforts.

The warmer-butt portion of the spectating was like lagnape. That's when you get something a little extra, more than you bargained for, so to speak.

Even through the shivers, I was thrilled that my spectating could go on. After all, the featured performance was good enough as I watched a beautiful tall and elegant black Dutch Warm Blood, ridden by a beautiful and very nice lady named Lisa, go through an hour's instruction from an amazing teacher.

After the first 15 minutes of watching, I couldn't imagine how the rider and the horse could keep all those commands straight in their heads, let alone perform them with relative ease. I sat back in awe for the next 45 minutes, even though my body wanted to be some place warm.

I figured if the horse and rider and the dressage coach with the hoarse voice from teaching eight sessions in one day earlier in the week could keep up at the fast-paced, intricate instruction, I could certainly tough it out and sit there as a good spectator. So, I did.

And, at the end when the instructor said, "Do you want to see my horse perform?" I jumped from my perch like a kid racing to the Christmas tree. I did stop off at the car and got my coat, and by the time the lagnape version of dressage began in the outdoor arena, the instructor's nice husband had put out the butt warmers.

The performance was magnificent, and I'll send you to a link to see this horse and rider winning a championship. During this segment, she said to me, "I wasn't good at anything else, but I'm good at this." To which, I began sharing my own history of never being good at singing or art or sports BUT, I said, "I'm good at spectating. Somebody's got to do that."

Suddenly a tinge of pride set in. Yes, there is value in spectating, and I know there was definitely was yesterday because when I went to thank her for taking the extra time, she yelled back from aboard her beautiful dressage mount, "I love to show off with my horses!"

Hearing that, I didn't feel one bit bad about staying longer than expected.

I knew that I had served a purpose and that I'd made someone's day just as much as they had all made mine. I thought about it later, and it is so true. Many of us think we have no talents, especially when we see people who do. There's the key.

Those people like to know that other people notice, so we who aren't good at anything provide a very important component for their desire to perform.

Where would a gold medalist be if nobody watched? Or, a photographer or painter if nobody viewed their artwork or an "American Idol" contestant if nobody listened and then called in to vote.

We spectators need to respect ourselves a lot more. Heck, if we were really good at something, we might get distracted and subtracted from the numbers of admirers who drive others to keep honing their talents and being the best that they can be.

And, what kind of world would that be?

So, be proud in spectating. Follow the rules as best you can, and if you do follow the rules, someone may just bring you a butt warmer so you can spectate in sheer comfort.

Now, get on with the spectating: (http://www.redingerdressage.com/) Click on "Mitras," on the left, scroll down and watch the video.