Take 2

Tonight was my second time on skates in full pads in a public rink. The fact that I was about to skate again, paired with the news of Susie's Law being passed today, put a big smile on my face.

I walked up to the rink to find 3 boys chillin', ages 7-10ish. The brutal honesty of a youngun' scares me almost as much as my friend telling me today I spoke in a southern accent not only twice, but even when she asked me to repeat myself. I repeated myself IN a southern accent. How did this happen so quickly? Who am I?

But, I digress.

I approached the rink and the short kid with the chubby face asked me what I was going to do in the rink and, indeed, what the rink was even for. We cleared up that mystery and moved on to whether I would race them. Considering a) I suck and, b) it had recently rained and I was going to have to use whatever concentration I was not directing towards staying upright on avoiding puddles, I had to decline. I also told them about the fact that they may very well witness me falling on my ass (not in those words). I was so nervous and took my time suiting up. The little round-faced guy kept saying, "Are you ready yet?" When I told him, again, that I was not at all good at this he said -- get this -- "I bet you're really good." I melted. Into a puddle onto the rotten-smelling concrete floor. I repeated my original statement, to which he responded, "I bet you're good at everything you do." Seriously, folks. Where was he in high school when my guidance counselor told me I would never get into the colleges to which I was applying (ps, I did)?

I gingerly teetered out on the surface and began my "rounds". His big brother (?) decided to race with me. He kept panting, "you are so fast" and I had to remind him that I was on wheels. Oh, it was such a beautiful, cheeseball moment when I let him win.


The water on the rink surface made it difficult to do a lot, so I practiced my plow stops (I didn't wipe out this time, but I can definitely see where I need more muscles) and T-stops (I still go in circles). I worked on starting off fast, skating low, skating on one foot (I veer off to one side or the other), and the unfortunately dubbed "Tomahawk stop" (look it up). I don't even know what to practice yet, so I had fun making up my own drills.


I felt myself get more assured on skates, and learned the hard way what happens when you let go TOO much and hit something with your wheel (not pretty). And I tried little jumps over standing water from the late afternoon thunderstorms. Oh, le sigh, I loved it all. As the puddles dried in the evening heat I went around and around and around.

I can't wait until Friday to get out there again.

<3