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Growing Pains by Stephen Lane OK. When I first started to write this article my thoughts came out in such a way that I had my own conflict with them. After editing time after time, I finally realized that writing is quite difficult, especially if you are not centered. It is also difficult if your intention is not direct or focused. So I thought for a while and eventually grasped that what I was trying to say is that I miss my Aikido family in North Carolina very much. Now, be not mistaken, ACV is a wonderful family with great people and great Aikido. However, when one is born into Aikido, into a small dojo and practices almost exclusively there for over five years, it is very difficult to leave. All of the memories remain. Times where one makes a strong connection with Sensei, on or off the mat, and one feels a new sense of depth in one's practice. Then there are times when everyone goes out after class to celebrate a student's birthday, or to catch up with someone who is returning after a lengthy hiatus from the dojo, or just to simply hang out and talk shop. And there are even the times when personal lives are attended to by the dojo; someone is sick and needs a call, or a dojo couple is having a baby, or Sensei's family is in crisis and support is needed from the students. There are so many different ways that aikidoists grow together to further build this vast, yet tightly knit web. As you see, I have a strong connection to another group of aikidoists. You must also know that I am ready to dive into the hearts of everyone at ACV. I will smile every time you throw me to the mat, and then rise again to attack with joy.