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The Matchbox Challenge – My Story
Yes, it’s true. My sister and I have always been super flexible. When we were kids we could put both our legs behind our necks. My sister could then walk on her hands. I couldn’t. Not enough upper body strength.
I could always touch my toes, well actually put my palms on the floor easily. As I grew up, I made a party trick out of it and made money. I’d stand on a wooden fruit box 10 inches off the floor and bending over with straight knees, pick up a matchbox from the floor. I won a few bets doing this.
I can’t remember how this developed into picking the matchbox off the floor with my mouth. My sister used the legs-spread width-ways technique like Keeley. I use the scissors technique - one leg forward and one leg backward. Of course with my artificial knees not being as flexible as my own knees, I can’t do this any longer. I can still get down closer to the matchbox than Carl though. 😊
It turns out the reason Keeley and I can do it is we are “double-jointed” that is, our joints are hypermobile. This hypermobility has led to problems with our feet. Our ankles are so flexible they need orthotics and special shoes to keep them stable and lessen our foot pain. As with everything, there are pros and cons.
And I haven’t won enough money with my party trick to pay for the new shoes and orthotics!
