The Ice Skating Rink

When I was growing up, trips to the "ice-skating rink" were infrequent. Usually we were taken as part of a field trip to the Whycocomagh arena. The reason for this was probably because there was a massive gravel pit at the end of our road which collected water in the summer and froze over in the winter. Dad would take us down to the "pit" and lace up our skates so we could join the rest of the neighborhood skating all over the gravel pit until dark settled in. The boys and men played hockey and the girls skated around, making paths in the snow with shovels. The area was acres and acres of ice. We had Dad as an instructor and cousins for company. We didn't need no stinkin' arena.

Yesterday when I overheard Adam tell Landon he was taking him down to the ice-skating rink near Helina's house, my heart skipped a beat. My neighbor Helina is a very ambitious, hardworking, fun-loving, Harley-riding, albeit glamorous woman and it would not surprise me that she would have flooded a rink area. Adam had recruited the other children as well and invited me to go along. I have to admit that I didn't want to get cold but I saw all my kids in the Ranger and at the same time noticed the evening light poking through the trees so I grabbed my camera and hopped in the Ranger. Come along with us....

We ride in the Ranger- Adam at the helm. A long ride, it's 4 houses down. 

See it??? Can you see it?

Uh-huh. Clearly I was delusional when I thought Helina may have flooded an area for a rink. 

She smiles. Alot. 

They absolutely love it. 

Then I'm thinking, maybe the "pit" just seemed big because I was little. You know how that happens? 

Seriously, they were in heaven here. Jumping and sliding and getting really dirty. 

The Ranger awaits. My fingers are freezing. 

But, I must shoot on, because they are still jumping and sliding. 

My mind drifts, "maybe John K. will come by with a ski-doo and take us for a crazy ride up and down the cliffs in the "pit"."

I drift back, watching my littles immensely enjoy this  frozen, over-sized puddle in someone else's yard. I think about skating with Barry, Donnie, Esther and Florence. After school while homework waited, even during exam week, we skated.  

I remember  skating around with my own hockey stick, it was used for balance because I was always afraid of taking risks.  Mom didn't hear from us again until we trudged back into the house at dark, to eat our waiting dinner. 

My kids would have stayed here until dark.

{He's almost 13}

Adam was showing me how thick the ice was and without realizing it, upset something Landon had been playing with. Thus upsetting Landon. See Landon throw a stick at Adam. See Adam cringe. See Landon get in trouble. I actually cannot show that. Violation of the terms and conditions of this blog. 

A couple of injuries were sustained (falling on the ice and getting into thorns) so we headed home in the Ranger. 

It was fun because, as all parents do, I love seeing my kids have good, wholesome fun. But I imagine temporarily transporting them back in time to the 80's and having them skate on the gravel pit and build memories that would set the standard for any future "ice-skating rinks".  But then I imagine them hearing Dad's truck tires crunching the snow in the driveway and smelling Mom's dinner and I worry that my kids might not want to come back to live in the oh-9's.