In January it's so nice
While slipping on the sliding ice
To sip hot chicken soup with rice
Sipping once, sipping twice
Sipping chicken soup with rice
Now that I have that old Carole King/Maurice Sendak favorite in your head, let me tell you what I did today. I started ice skating lessons! I didn't bring my chicken soup, but I did bring my stiff new ice skates (ouch!) and my courage.
A month ago, while perusing the list of available Middlebury College Winter Workshops, Q suggested I pick a 4-week class to try this year. Since I have little interest in Advanced Wine Education and Appreciation or Fly Casting or Kathak dancing, I chose something I've always wanted to do better: skating. I can keep myself up on the ice without holding on to the boards, but I've never had any formal instruction. As my in-law family members can attest, I could use it.
I missed the first two lessons last week due to travel, so I was not nearly as confident today as the other beginners. They were already doing swizzles and backward wiggles and pumps and stuff. They even knew how to stop- well, most of them did. But all 7 of us were clearly out of our comfort zones, wishing we didn't wobble so much and wondering when we were going to biff it. Luckily, none of us did.
I enjoyed it immensely despite the uncomfortable skates and slippery surface. It was fun to try something new that I'm most definitely NOT good at and see an improvement in an hour of guidance and practice. And the fun doesn't end there; tomorrow I get to see which muscles I only use on the ice!
4 comments:
You are so very brave..... I loved getting your Christmas card. What an adorable family.
Go Maren! I'm happy to see you are following Elder Ballard's counsel from last April's General Conference. I need to do better at remembering to work on "me" each day! Thanks for reminding me :) You're awesome!
Way to go! I worked a summer at an Ice Skating Rink and, as a going-away present, got a voucher for a session of classes. Now you've got me wondering where I put that thing...think they'd still take it nearly 10 years later?
I went ice skating once when I was ten and it ended with a severe concussion and a trip to the hospital. So it seems like a class could be helpful.
The dutch seem to have a good time with it. I saw a recent batch of photos where the canals had all frozen due to a cold snap and everyone came out and went skating. It looked awesome.
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