Blue Suede Skates

“I’d like to buy a pair of figure skates.” 

The sales girl looks me up and down with a mixture of contempt and disgust.  Her eyes land on my feet.  She just looks at them like she’s never seen anything quite like them before in her life.  I look down; my winter horseback riding boots are covered in dust from the ring and have salt splatters all over them.  At her request I take them off and get measured.  

“We don’t have your size in women’s skates.”   She says looking, relieved that I’ll be leaving soon.

“I know that,” I snap…I am irritated.  “I have always worn men’s figure skates.  Those come in my size.”  She looks at me like I am crazy and goes away to consult with someone  in the back. 

I know I shouldn't be rude, but it’s Friday night and I have gone far out of my way to seek out this specialty store.   I just want to get the kind of skates I learned with…you know “girls’ skates,” the ones with the picks on the front.  After a 25 year hiatus I am going to skate again and I don't need any added variables like a new style of blades.

The sales girl returns.  “We will have to do a special order.  It takes a week and they will cost $210.00.” 

I exhale.  The 43 Project is expensive. 

“I’ll think about it and let you know.”

Dejected I start walking back to the subway.  On the way, I encounter a used sporting goods store.

“O.K. maybe it really is  time I considered learning to skate on hockey skates. I can a deal on them here.”  I say to myself and walk in.

Once inside I scan the huge wall of used skates. It’s about 30 feet long with racks that go 10 feet high.  I am overwhelmed.  All the sales people are busy and I don’t know where to start. So I decide to walk the length of the wall.  It runs from hockey to figure skating.  Right at the transition point between the two disciplines, a pair of figure skates grabs my attention.  How could they not…they are blue suede and there’s a bright purple sticker that says size 12.

They are the craziest things I’ve ever seen.  I take them down.  I put them on.  They are a little too big, but I think with an insole and extra socks they just might do.  I look at the price tag…$34.99.  Sold. 

I text Marla and we make arrangement to go to skating on Sunday.  

Sunday rolls around and we head over to the local skating rink.  We decide to go early to avoid all the hot shot kids.  I used to be one those.  As I lace up the blue suede skates I am wondering if I have lost my skating mojo. 

I stand up on the rubber mat and look at the bad ice between the rubber and the rink.  “How am I going to get over that?” I ask myself.   For the first time in my skating history, I feel fear.   It seems like a very long 25 years from this moment to my last in skates.  I am also thinking about how I don’t bounce like I used to. 

With a big breath and long stride I step over the bad ice and onto the rink.  I am wobbly.  I move slowly forward doing a sort of monster walk.  I suddenly remember to bend my knees and the gliding motion starts coming back to me.  I manage to make it to the far boards.   I am trembling.  Still on my feet, Marla offers me words of encouragement.   We continue to skate.   

About 25 laps of the rink later I am still upright and elated.  I’ve been saying I am going to get 
back to skating for at least 10 years now.  I can’t believe I have finally done it.  It wasn't pretty and  there will be no backwards skating or cross cuts for a long time yet...but there will still be some good winter fun. 

I get home and wipe down the blades of the blue suede skates.   I wonder to myself where I should store them.  It's a fleeting thought.  Doesn't seem much point in thinking to hard about it.  I set them beside my riding boots and running shoes.  It feels like a waste of effort to put away something I going to be using next weekend.

Never quit

Mary

Coming up:  More winter fun