POGO STICKS

One never knows

what will compose

the catalyst for

a connection

While leaving the beach and climbing onto the boardwalk, I came across a woman on an adult-sized tricycle, adorned with both front and rear baskets.  Protruding prominently out of the large rear basket were not one, but two, high-tech adult pogo sticks.  Not being able to pass up the bait, I took a bite.

As it turns out, the cross-pollination of talents and passions have engendered a new generation of jumping-enthusiasts, as aerospace engineers have added, once again, to the incredible array of exercising options that never seem to end.  Jan, our jumper, went on to inform me of various models available, depending on your performance goals, which of course, has spawned competitive events--what a surprise.

She added that the variety of their use has spread to such diverse venues as motocross, where, when a rider is forced into a pit stop situation, they will immediately pick up a pogo stick and start jumping, because the movement accurately replicates the same muscle-groups used during the race, and keeps them warmed up until they can jump back on the bike.

It turns out Jan is an avid runner, surfer, musician, on top of being a resident Psychology professor at Southwestern Community College.  Our conversation transitioned from pogo sticks, to the Paralympics, to a wide variety areas within psychology, including, research and development, and shows and documentaries highlighting variations on the theme.  We gobbled up a quick half-hour in what seemed like five minutes.

Life will always present you with segwaying opportunities for connections, no matter who engineered them and for what reason.