The One at Disneyland

And it all began with this photo... I think. ;)

It was spring 1997. We were visiting California, so my sister could go to prom with a guy-friend of hers. Disneyland has always been one of our very favorite places, so we just had to go!

I'm not sure what even prompted me at this moment to start the handstand thing. But I do remember that 1997 was when I started getting good at them. LOL.

The Partners statue is one of my favorite things at Disneyland. I love that the castle is in the back, and the bronze character sculptures surround it. One of my very favorite places to hang out. :)

The First One

Have you ever noticed when you go on vacation to a cool place and when taking a picture, you just sit there and smile?

So a few years later you're sitting there looking in photo albums (or scrapbooks...) thinking, "Here's me standing in front of this place. And here's me standing in front of this place. I'm boring." Well, I was tired of looking back at pictures of myself in front of cool places... just standing there.

So... I decided (being the crazy gymnast I am) in 1997 that I would do away with 'just standing there' and instead I would do handstands in front of cool places. This phenomenon has now turned into what I like to call my "Handstand Portfolio."

And my name? So kindly bestowed upon me by my gymnastics coach, Jen. Handstand Queen. A bit egotistical, I think... and *so* not me to call myself a queen (too low maintenance to have that title). And for some reason, I always think of Diva and Queen being in the same category, both of which I'm not. But I can hold a handstand, so if I had to be Queen of something, I'm glad it's that!