Smile and like it

Around and around the rink I skate during open skate with my sons. I keep to the edge to make the trip around as long as possible. My sons laugh and talk as they skate around. Soon after about ten minutes they’re off the ice. Around and around I keep going looking up at the scoreboard every lap to see how long I am skating. The rink is filled with it’s assortment of youngsters, parents, and a few skaters who seem to be here every time I come down to the rink. Back on the ice my boys continue their skate. I still trudge on around and around. I can feel my knee and back ache after the first twenty minutes. I have to start like this, get the warm up over before I feel like my old self on the ice. Around I keep going, left turn, left turn, left turn, on and on. Even a few weeks away from the rink seems to be a bit too long. Finally I see that I’ve been skating non-stop at a decent pace for 30 minutes. I do my bench stop and walk off the ice. The warm air of the non-cooled section of the rink hits me like a truck. I sit down next to my wife – the figure skater who is never amused at my odd ritual and try not to make eye contact as I pretend not to breathe hard. “Yep! I think I’ll go back out for a few more laps after I take a break.” Then I smile. It’s not received well. I go back out on the rink, and suddenly I feel like I’m at the top of my game. The skating is perfect – I think as I whirl around the rink in my white sport shirt and cargo shorts. I feel great………for about ten minutes. Now reality sets in. I think I better sit down. My youngest glides by me and smiles. Just a few more laps with my son then I’ll stop. Never show pain, never show pain.