That Time I Accidentally Went Ice Skating

    In my excitement for my newfound hobby, my boyfriend Wayne suggested I connect with friends of his who he knew skated as well.  He remembered one friend used her inline skates during run club, so we messaged back and forth about going skating!  I mentioned that Wayne had told me she did figure skating, and she told me she had an extra pair of skates for me to try before I bought my own pair (I had bought my own by the time we saw each other--I couldn't wait)!  

    She was on vacation when we started talking, so our plans were a long time coming.  I was curious when she suggested a rink that was pretty out of the way from both of us.  As the day got closer, I looked it up to see how far it would be, and realized it was an ICE SKATING rink.  I scrolled back through our texts and realized I’d never typed “roller” before the word “skates.” It was totally my blunder, and actually a pretty funny misunderstanding.

    Now, I had also told a mutual friend about our "skate date," because it turns out she also owns a pair of roller skates, and used to belong to a skate club!  I messaged her about the mix-up.  Fortunately, we were both still willing to try the ice.

Winter gear!

    I brought my padded shorts, but my friend had already laced me up in her skates!  It was a big to-do, with my feet being wider despite our same shoe size, and taking time to put on the extra gel pads she had brought to share for my ankles!  The girls assured me I'd be fine without my shorts (spoiler alert--they were right, I didn't fall that day!) so I left them my bag, zipped up my light jacket, and donned the other winter accessories she had also brought for us (ear cover and gloves).  She was prepared and so generous!!

    The rink was cold, which was thrilling, considering the Florida heat.  The skates on the other hand, not so.  I felt every scrape in the ice, and I worried that I'd wobble a little too much and hurt my ankles.  People say inline skates are a whole different feel than quad skates, and this was a good example of that difference.  With quads, I have more surface area holding me up, while on ice skates, well, we all know ice skates.  I relied on a thin cut of metal in the center of each foot.  Not only that, but it was more dangerous.  I dreaded the thought of someone skating right over my finger. 

    So I was less daring than I'd been with my roller skating, as I tried to stay upright with tiny children either zooming around without a care in the world, or clinging for dear life against the small piece of wall that juts out just below the plexiglass window encircling the rink.  My figure skating friend did beautiful twirls in the center of the rink along with other people who knew what they were doing, and skated backwards to keep conversation with us.  It's such a joy to see people do something well, and that they love.

    I watched the big hockey goal post keeping track of the time, knowing we only had one hour on the ice.  With 6 minutes to spare, the entrance/exit came up, and I announced that I'd make my escape.  My friends did a few more laps before the announcement came to clear the ice, and I enjoyed sitting on a bench, watching younger skaters zoom off the rink onto the rubber floor with no account for change in friction, no bracing themselves for impact, just shoving full-force into each decision, if it was a decision at all.  

    I had a sudden flashback of coming in from playing in the snow, a childhood with all 4 seasons.  The burning sensation of running warm water over your frozen fingers, stomping the snow off your boots and removing all snow clothes over a towel just inside the door, and Mom making hot chocolate with the big marshmallows.

    I survived.  It wasn't my favorite thing to do, but I felt quite daring having still gone ahead with it.  It worked the same muscles, so I counted it as a win in my progress, and in my friendships.