Man, what a day! Seriously, I’m still buzzing from it. So, I woke up in Taradale, right? You know, that chill little suburb near Napier, NZ. I love it here. The sun was shining, birds were chirping, and I thought, “Today’s gonna be a good one.” Spoiler alert: it was not.
First off, I had a client scheduled at Taradale High School. This kid, let’s call him Jake, is a total legend on the rugby field. But man, he’s got the nerves of a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I’m talking major anxiety. So, I’m cruising down Puketapu Road, feeling all pumped, and then BAM! Roadworks. Like, seriously? It’s 2023, can’t they figure this out? I’m stuck there, fuming, thinking about how I’m gonna be late.
Finally, I get to the school, and Jake’s there, looking like he’s about to throw up. I mean, I get it. Rugby’s intense, but dude, chill! We sit down, and I’m trying to get him to breathe, you know? “Inhale, exhale, bro!” But he’s just staring at me like I’m speaking Martian.
Then, outta nowhere, his coach barges in. Total buzzkill. He’s all like, “Jake, you gotta toughen up!” I’m like, “Dude, chill! We’re working on his mental game here!” But nah, he’s not having it. I’m ready to throw down, but I keep it cool. I mean, I’m a sports psychologist, not a brawler.
After that, I needed a breather. So, I hit up the Taradale shops on Gloucester Street. Grabbed a coffee from that cute little café, you know the one? The one with the awesome barista who always remembers my order. I swear, she’s a mind reader or something. Anyway, I’m sipping my flat white, and it’s like heaven in a cup.
But then, I see this kid, maybe 10 years old, crying over a broken skateboard. My heart just sinks. I mean, I’ve been there, right? So, I walk over, and I’m like, “Hey mate, what happened?” He tells me he saved up for ages for that board. I’m like, “Dude, let’s fix it!” So, I whip out my phone, Google some skate shops, and we find one on Taradale Road.
We head over, and I’m thinking, “This kid’s gonna be stoked!” But when we get there, it’s closed. I’m like, “No way!” I’m ready to throw a tantrum. But then, I see a sign for a skate park nearby. I’m like, “Let’s go shred some gnar!”
We get to the park, and it’s packed. Kids are flying around, doing tricks I can’t even dream of. I’m feeling all nostalgic, like I’m 12 again. So, I grab a board and give it a go. Spoiler: I wipe out. Hard. But the kid laughs, and I’m like, “See? It’s all about having fun!”
After that, I’m feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. I drop the kid off at home, and he’s grinning ear to ear. I’m like, “Mission accomplished!” But then, I realize I’m late for my next appointment. Ugh!
I rush back to my car, and guess what? I locked my keys inside. Classic me, right? I’m standing there, cursing under my breath, thinking about how I’m gonna explain this to my next client. “Sorry, I was busy being a total klutz.”
Finally, I manage to get a locksmith, and while I’m waiting, I just sit there, staring at the view of the Taradale hills. It’s stunning, honestly. I mean, how can you be mad when you’ve got that view?
By the time I get to my next session, I’m frazzled but ready to roll. I walk in, and my client’s like, “You look like you’ve been through a war.” I laugh and tell him about my day. We end up having a great session, and I leave feeling like I actually made a difference.
So, yeah, Taradale, you crazy little town. You’ve got your quirks, but I wouldn’t trade you for anything. What a wild ride!