The Ghosts of Winter Past
Once upon a time I lived in hilly, pine tree covered Wausau, Wisconsin.
Every day at noon I would head over to the ice rink at the fair grounds to skate.
Typically four or five skaters would be there; a mother and a child, a young man skating figures, an elderly gentleman and me.
The young man showed me how to skate a figure eight. I learned to use the edges on my skates.
Harley, the elderly man, taught me to skate the waltz. The waltz is skated much faster than you would imagine and very close to your partner.
Stroke, swing, inside edge, loop.
Stroke, turn, outside edge, glide.
I was nervous and scared and worked very hard to keep up with Harley's speed and steps.
I loved it so much.
It was possibly the coolest thing I have ever done.
(post from quiet life 2005)
Did you know my blog is twenty years old?
I hope you never stop sharing.
ReplyDeleteawwww....thank you for that.
DeleteHave a lovely Christmas!
ReplyDeleteLove the skating story! And happy, happy birthday to Katie! I feel so fortunate to have found your blog so many years ago. xoxo Mary Z
ReplyDeleteI am the lucky one.
DeleteDid you ever ice skate at the Rathje Park pond in Wheaton? I loved that place.
ReplyDeleteTony, I did not. Guess where we skated? On our pool in the backyard! We intentionally let it freeze for skating!! I wonder if the pond in Wheaton is still a rink in winter?
DeleteBless you for blessing us for so long. Happy birthday to little Katie. Delight in each other and all your loved ones. And pencil me in on your calendar to teach me how to ice skate. (Love, Anita)
ReplyDeleteOh Anita. That would be a wonderful goal. Getting up from a fall on the ice is what holds me back. I'm not so good about getting up from the ground. Could I get there in a year??? And thank you for being here, Anita. One of my constants.
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