An Old Passion and a New Beginning.

Me as a red belt, circa 1981.

She stood only a few feet away from me, mirroring my stance — feet shoulder-length apart, arms bent at the elbows, her hands balled up into fists at belt level. My heart was beating fast, a tingle of excitement stirring in my belly. She was a black belt, and I was a red belt, this only my second Tae Kwon Do competition.

“Begin!” the referee yelled.