I think it was 6th grade when the hula hoop craze hit, full force.

I could twirl one around my arm or hand, but never could do it around my waist.

There was a girl who was the master: she could keep the hoop going forever around her waist, but with just the slightest movement on her part. She had it perfected; she barely moved and the hoop was totally under her spell. Along with me.

I suppose if we were older, her swaying might have been sexy, but we were still just kids and I was hypnotized watching her make that hoop swirl.

Of course, she could also swirl 5 hoops just as easily.

I still can’t make a hula hoop twirl around my waist, but I bet she still can, perfectly, wherever she is.