Youngling Works on His Axel (Updated)

Back in October, my coach, his young male student (Youngling) working on his axel and I were the only people on the ice during the last freestyle of the day.

I had put this dramatic movie music on my iPhone on the speakers for the kid because he. must. skate. with. music. I guess his life needs a sound track.

The music fit perfectly with his lesson, building and falling with each attempt and failure. I wondered if it affected his skating from an emotional perspective. He just couldn't land his axel off harness.  

A hockey boy stepped in tennis shoes onto the ice, and the student snapped at him "Get off the ice!" So tension was high and building--just as the music was at a tense and profound moment. I skated over and shut the gate so no one else would come in.

I know this kid, I really want him to get his axel. So for the last 5 minutes I sat in the music box, so he wouldn't even have me on the ice to distract him out of the corner of his eye. It was just him and the coach.

And while I was waiting, I glanced across the ice. There must have been 20 people in the stands and others clustered against the glass, staring at him as if they were watching a movie. I could see the music affecting their expressions, and posture. He would go up, they would take a breath; and he would fall, their shoulders would slump.

Too bad the student never got his axel. It would have made a great movie--music and all.


(Youngling got his axel March 2013)

The Little Old Lady Way--On Ice

About the time I passed 60, I started calling everyone 'hon', 'dear', or 'sweetie'. It's like an announcement was made in my head:

"You are an old lady now. Have Fun with It."

It's wonderful being 'aged'.

Today, a boy skater (16), I'll call 'Youngling', came up to me and Miss Cheerleader. He was today's rink guard; the three of us all take from Dance Coach.  "Does my hair look okay?" he asked us. It stuck out everywhere. What do I know? Is that popular now? I looked at him critically, "Youngling, I'm old enough to be your grandmother, You.Look.Adorable." Miss Cheerleader hooted, as we both know how sulky teenage boys can be when you say stuff like that. I expected an eye-roll. But Youngling just grinned. You see, when you're a Little Old Lady, they don't mind.

When I got on the ice, Dance Coach was his usual, "Move faster. Push Harder. More Extension!"

I should just record Dance Coach for motivation
Move Faster! More Extension! Push Harder!

I was pushing, moving, extending past ice tourists -- technically within inches of people as I'm faster than all but the annoying wannabe hockey boys-- I was all "Sorry hon." or "Sweetie, you're fine." or "Did I scare you dear?"

This drives Dance Coach Batty!

"When did you get so chatty....and nice? You used to be loud and 'everybody move out of my way, now!' You're not the same person."

Old Me
"Get off my ice! You crazy kids!"

New Me: "Dahlink, you are zo Vunderful"

Well, of course my skills have become 100X better. I'm not afraid of falling and breaking something as I was when I was fresh out of broken ankle recovery, and I'm about 50 times more confident than two years ago. I no longer flinch when I pass close to someone.

Thanks to Dance Coach, Cruella, Amazing and Moves Coach for building my skills. I'm not a hopeless case after all.

Just one thing's missing.

I'd.Kill.To.Have.The.Knees.I.Had.When.I.Was.14.

So true, so true.

Other than that, being 60 is a lot of fun!