Skip to main content

couples skate

I have a fond place in my heart for skating rink. And I mean, even before I was hot stuff in the 6th grade eating nachos with my vavuumed stacked bangs hoping someone would ask me to couple skate to some Bryan Adams.
Before that.
Way before that. More like when I was 5 or 6 and spent every Wednesday summer mornings leaving some skin on the blue rink of Pooh’s park. Running into the carpeted wall and then eventually ditching the skates and sliding down the big slide on that tiny yellow piece of foam.

 Tonight Tess had an end of the year tball party at a local skating rink and I quickly paid for 2 skate rentals before I realized that Tess would have nothing to do with those ugly yellow boots with wheels.
She has high standards for anything that goes on her feet.
And was perfectly happing in her sparkly pink flops watching the rest of us bust our asses.

So I got Owen some skates and used the second pair of blades for myself. And tried to push the Veterans Park roller blading debacle of 2002 that ended with my husband applying Neosporin to my crack far out of my memory as I tightened them up and headed out onto the rink.

 Which was not playing Bryan Adams. Or New Kids. Or Jodeci. Or anything else couples skate worthy. Instead Katy Perry sang about how she spent her last Friday night and I hoped and prayed that neither of my children would ask me what some of the things in that song meant. (and I might have sang along a little bit too).

Let me switch gears here a little and tell you what I know about staying up right. At least according to the laws of physics. And I’m not expert on staying on my feet, but I do have a masters degree in the science stuff. And the rule of toppling is this: as long as your center of gravity stays above your support base, you shouldn’t fall over. I know the rule. I get the science behind it. I’ve taught it. I’ve tested over it. I’ve done countless demos where I make my kids try to touch their toes while keeping their heels against the wall (it is impossible). But. watching my son tried to skate taught me lots more about falling, than any physics book ever will.

  1. At first hold on and go slow. There is no shame in a little support and taking your time.
  2. Eventually you will run out of wall. At some point we all have to let go.
  3. Falling hurts. A lot. But you get over it.
  4. Falling is a lot more exciting than watching from the sidelines. Even if you bruise your tailbone.
  5. My son knew he was getting the hang out of it, not when he stopped falling….but when the time between falls got longer. He didn’t expect to not fall. He just hoped to get a little further and faster each time. Grown ups are too easily discouraged. We don’t want to fall at all. He didn’t seem the slightest bit embarrassed that he was spending as much time on the ground as he was upright.
  6. Be careful not to take other people down with you.
  7. Always accept a hand from someone who is willing to help you back up.
  8. Sometimes you need a break before getting back out there.
  9. Trying to keep up with the people around you is bound to leave you on your back.
  10. And most importantly, you have to learn to stand on your own two feet (or two skates) before you can even think about a decent couples skate. That and you should really wait for a good song and find someone who can skate backwards with you….

Comments

Kate said…
I love, love, love those lessons.

And one more try - that totally took me back to when I would tape Casey Casum's (how do you spell his name?) count down.

Thriller is the soundtrack to my skating.
katy said…
I had to stand up just now and put my heels against my office wall and... fall over. :)

Popular posts from this blog

Canceled

I inhale books. So much so that I’m occasionally embarrassed by my intake. I don’t want anyone to think that I don’t work or pay attention to my family.  I’m just a fast reader and I don’t watch a lot of TV or play any games on my phone. Well – except for Wordle of course. My library card get a lot of miles. However, I still probably spend an embarrassing amount on books.  Even though I often put books in those cute little free libraries – I still have more books than shelves.  Today I did something tragic.  I did not renew my book of the month membership.  And let's be honest, it is more like three books a month.  I am not unhappy with the customer service, quality  or selection.  Book of the Month, I promise …it’s not you - it’s me.  I want to invest in my writing and I realize this going to cost me.  I don’t want to take that money from my family or my kid’s college funds.  Instead I had to evaluate what I was willing to give up.  What financial choices impact me but not as many

slow

Recently I went to the local running store and let them charge a ridiculous amount for a new pair of running shoes. I used to run. Just like I used to do lots of things, but lately I have been slow to get off the couch. Let’s be honest. This season has been a long one, and I’ve been slow to do a lot of things that are good for me. My old shoes are wearing thin and nothing motivates like a new pair of kicks.  I quickly found my brand and style of choice and asked the worker to bring them in my size. The owner spoke up from the back, “So you are picking your shoes out based on how they look?” I pulled my own foot into her view. I showed her a similar pair in teal, well worn, with the big toe scuffed all the way through. The model was a few years old and I needed a fresh start.  “Nope. These are my brand, but I’m open to your suggestions.” Runners are very particular about their shoes.  I tell her I need something to absorb a lot of the impact.  I tell her that I overpronate just a little

The annual REAL Christmas letter: 2021 edition

  One of my favorite traditions for over a  decade has been to sit down and try to write a REAL Christmas letter.  Not just the highlights, but a few honest moments as well. It started as a joke with one of my friends, thinking how refreshing it be for people to share more than just their perfect lives that we are used to seeing on Facebook and Instagram. It would be way more truthful and a whole lot more entertaining. So here goes… 2021 I had such high hopes for you. Well, actually the bar was pretty low but clearly not low enough. If I have learned anything from 2020 it is that even things that are difficult, the days are still a gift. It is a gift to gather with family without a Covid test or a worrisome 5 days after. It is a gift to go to the movies or a concert. It is a gift to go to work, school and sporting events. It is a gift to get vaccines, to board an airplane to sit in a pew at church. It is a gift to be allowed back to visit someone in the emergency room. It is a gift to