For somewhere in the move I must have abandoned or lost my ice skates. I don't remember which, but I do know that I was without skates throughout grad school, but it really didn't matter, as ice rinks or ponds or Rideau Canals were not on my mind. And I biked to class all winter instead of skating.
Today, however, that lost past came rushing back as Mr. C and I took our three children to buy their first pair of ice skates and to replace my long-lost pair. And then, of course, we skated all afternoon.
It was my five-year-old son's first time on ice, so I spent much of the afternoon strengthening my quads in a less intense version of this position--
--as I guided him around on a "walker" for new skaters. It reminded me of a repurposed ab roller (from the 1990s).
But from time to time I was able to cut loose and skate some laps. I quickly felt like I was in the film The Cutting Edge (1992 version) as I realized that my old skates of yore had their toe picks filed off. But these skates would allow me to dig my pick into the ice and leap into the air, if I wished to do so (I didn't).
On the way home, my children all remarked that this was the best day ever, and that they can't wait to find a local pond. I promised them that we will do so tomorrow and then saw in my mind's eye my childhood PEI back yard, which my father had flooded and transformed into my private rink. Perhaps that's next.
And I'm really, really glad to be skating again.
7 comments:
Hmmm... you're making me realize that I need to get to the rink at Bryant Park in NYC after work one day, before it closes at the end of next month!
How wonderful that your children all love skating and that it's something you can do together as a family!
Jennifer, I used to work rightnextdoor to Bryant Park, but there wasn't a rink there yet. If only . . .
Sounds wonderful - I miss ice skating and I lost it after my teens. My small time in Ottawa meant I ice skated a lot even in to town. I'm taking up ballet again this year maybe ice skating can follow!
I don't know what it is - must be in the air or something, but this week, I have been positively obsessed with ice skating. My daughter and SIL had a baby in January and I've already gone to the local site for "Mice on Ice" to check on how soon I can get the little guy into lessons. There was an article (NYT?) about Concord, NH and their outdoor hockey championships. And, all I could think about was when my dad used to take us skating at a local park (they used to flood the outdoor basketball court, which was next to, conveniently enough, a skating shack with potbellied stoves). He could not skate for anything but obviously felt that, like piano lessons, sensible shoes, and wool anything, skating was something kids needed to learn. We were always pretty horrible at it (I figured just being able to stay upright and get around the rink was skills enough), but for anyone who lives anyplace cold enough for a real winter, learning to skate so that you can enjoy the outdoors is great.
A little bit of home, wherever you are.
What a lovely way to spend the day with your family. As a southern Californian I never really learned to ice skate well. I was always a little sad about my lack of skill on skates especially when I heard stories from my friends who grew up in the North East about how they loved winter because they could skate on the local ponds.
You sound like a parent who enjoys those "best days ever" with her children and Mr. C. I wish more parents would understand how focused time with their children transforms the childrens' lives.
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