December 2003
Week of December 7, 2003
Mental Health Day
Okay, so I wasn’t that sick. Of course, I was sick over the weekend and went to work feeling lousy on Monday. However, on Tuesday I still did not feel perfectly healthy, but was well enough to call in sick to work and enjoy the day. This was my first sick day on this job. I do not use sick days frivolously. I actually went to work with a nasty cold for a whole week last month. I deserve one pleasure day; call it a mental health day.
I attended the daytime public session at the new rink. No one touched the ice for an hour and a half but me and a couple of ice guarding college kids sporting multiple facial piercings. Unlike many rink personnel, who hog the ice as though they own it, these people just loitered around near the barriers talking and stayed out of my way. I had the entire place to myself! It was heaven, though I doubt heaven is that cold. I skated for a while wearing my jacket. As though I had fallen back into an old routine, I skated moves in the field and dance patterns for an hour, then played with spins and jumps before returning to dance and footwork.
I had a wonderful time, though I missed the company of my adult skating friends. However, I went to the other rink many times last season and no other adult appeared. I missed my friends on those days too. This new rink remains a well-guarded secret. The afternoon and evening public sessions may be jammed, but no spoiled kids occupy the daytime ice. No one annoying has discovered the Saturday morning freestyles. How long can paradise last?
Since my quality ice time is so rare these days, I relished every minute in that rink. It was glorious! I had a fantastic time. I wish I could go everyday. Whenever I am able to get to that session it will be a treat, something I cannot take for granted. Sadly, I felt depressed about having to go back to work. I still miss my old life of relative leisure. I was blessed to have had that time. I was blessed to have enjoyed Tuesday.
Week of December 14, 2003
New Home Rink
What a joy to ice skate this Saturday! I especially appreciated it because I have been sick yet again and could not attend aerobics classes this week. I felt a little exhausted on the ice, but the cold cleared my sinuses marvelously. The new rink is not heated, or the management chooses not to heat the frozen spaces. In fact, a steel garage-type door was left wide open to the winter chill, which I did not mind because the sun shone brightly in the morning adding a special cheerfulness to the rink that one usually experiences only while skating outdoors.
During the short span of time I have spent at this facility, I have already begun to make friends. Adult skaters seek each other and converge on the ice and after the session. I have made two new friends, one who seems to have the potential to become a good skating buddy. We are talking about taking photographs of each other and studying our positions. She has a gracefulness about her that probably came from her childhood ballet training. She does not jump or ice dance, but hits pretty edges and has an enviable attitude-spiral sequence. She helped me to improve my attitude position. I do not know why this pose is so difficult to achieve, but done improperly, a skater can look like a dog voiding without a fire hydrant. I need a full-length mirror to practice at home.
The rink has instituted a couple of afternoon freestyles, one of which I might be able to catch if I rush out of work on time and hurry straight to the skating mecca. That would allow me two freestyles per week, whenever possible. I have also approached the skating director about lessons. I have observed her working with a couple of young girls and like what I see. She does nice moves in the field and has a gorgeous outside spread eagle, Ina Bauer sequence. She can offer me a lesson every other week. Considering my limited skating schedule, that would be ideal. Unfortunately, she does not teach dance, but if I ever get involved in roller dance, I might concentrate my dance efforts on the floor and spend more time on ice freestyle. After the new year, I plan to arrange for our first meeting.
A rather trivial thing I like about this new paradise is the snack bar. They offer a bottomless cup of coffee and/or hot cocoa for two dollars. I enjoyed a lovely mocha-java concoction on the ice and a refill after the session then topped it off for the drive home. I officially have a new home rink, and I love it.
Week of December 21, 2003
Disappointment on Location
I cannot honestly say I was surprised to arrive for the supposed newly instituted freestyle session to find that no one at the rink knew what I was talking about. The session was not on the schedule. No, it was not merely cancelled because it is a holiday week. And, no, it is not a coming attraction for January. It simply does not exist. I looked at the agenda myself. It included no freestyles other than the one I already attend on Saturday mornings.
A new skating friend, who also teaches children’s group lessons, told me two additional freestyle sessions had been established. I mentioned this person by name to the employees at the counter and showed them the card she gave me with the times listed on the back. Apparently, a misunderstanding has occurred. Maybe these sessions are under consideration for the undetermined future. However, my informant seemed so certain, I hurried out of work and fought the traffic straight to the rink only to be disappointed. During the day, I actually experienced a moment of skepticism that almost motivated me to call and ask if this phantom session were indeed a reality. Years of dealing with incompetent rink folk caused me to reconsider. The flunky who answers the phone will not know anything. I would simply have to take my chances, throw caution to the wind, and cast doubt aside. I should have known another semi-convenient hour of freestyle each week was too good to be true.
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