On Sunny Lane: Sharing Time Is Fun Time?

Many years ago, when my cousin and I were teenagers, her brother got her a pair of ice skates for Christmas.

I was almost as excited as she was, because I knew she would share them with me when I went to visit her. And visit her I did. And share with me she did.

Sharing meant that we had to wait until the weather was cold enough to freeze a thick layer of ice on the creek at the bottom of her family’s property. It meant we had to bundle up and walk about 500 yards to the creek, sit on a cold, snowy log and put on the skates.

It meant I had to sit on the cold, snowy log, since I had no ice skates, and wait until she was done so I could have a turn. I was fortunate that our shoe sizes were close enough that I could wear her skates.

I wobbled a lot when I got on the skates. I wobbled as I skated, too, because the ice on the creek did not have a smooth surface like a skating rink has. And the air was cold, whereas a rink is relatively warm. Changing from boots to skates and from skates back to boots was a cause for cold feet.

Through the years, as a teenager, young adult and young mother, I found enough ponds to skate on that I could get around a little bit on the ice. I didn’t fall a whole lot and I could even skate backward a little bit. As time passed, though, being out in the cold weather held less appeal and I found other pastimes to brighten my days.

I don’t know the difference between a lutz, an axel and an open-toed loop, but I can enjoy the style and grace in their performances. I can see the exhilaration in their eyes, as they seem to float across the ice. They bring back to me memories of my cold moments on various ponds as I defied gravity for just a short while. It was exhilarating!

It does no good to wish I could skate like a star, because I do other things well, but I can skate along with those experts from my nice, warm, comfortable living room couch.

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Dorothy is the author of two books—“Miles and Miracles” and “Getting It All Together “. You can purchase a book or send a comment by emailing her at dorothybutzknight@gmail.com