I'm going to let you in on a little secret. When I did Roller Derby Saved My Soul at the Ottawa Fringe Festival, I didn't bother inviting the Ottawa Roller Derby teams. To be honest, I had no clue how the show was going to turn out and I was scared they'd hate it. It's the equivalent to spending three years mooning over the hottest girl in school, pumping yourself up to finally ask her out by writing the perfect, stalker-ishly adorable love letter, and then, when you finally have the guts to read it to her, she laughs in your face, asks you who the fuck you think you are and then beats you up in the parking lot.

So, I chickened out.

But then we all know how Roller Derby Saved My Soul turned out. My confidence grew and, mostly because I really didn't know anyone in Hamilton, I emailed the Hammer City Roller Girls to tell them all about it.

They came. They saw. They laughed... in all the right places - there were even a few jokes that got laughs for the very first time because they knew exactly what I was talking about.

My fears? Completely unjustified. Five players were at the show last night and I had a chance to chat with them a bit both before and after the show. They loved it and I was thrilled! Lots of positive comments like "very true to life" and "three thumbs up." But then, as I told them about some of the things I wanted to add to the production:

"I'd like to add some jumps and tricks, but I really need to get stronger on skates first."

"I don't think so. You handled yourself pretty well out there."

Best. Comment. Ever.

I know my skating skills have improved dramatically since I first started doing the show, but hearing positive feedback like this from people who KNOW? That just makes it all worthwhile.