It is freezing cold outside. Today, as I drove to work, we had -10 degrees celsius. And that is cold! Especially when we don’t have snow.
Funny thing that: same temperature often feels different, depending on snow/no snow, wind, sun, humidity... The sky is clear, not a cloud in sight, and it is really lovely outside, but it is cold.
With such cold weather, and no snow, the ponds and lakes freeze and it is really perfect conditions for ice skating.
As soon as the ice is declared safe we turn up in great numbers to enjoy skating.
When I grew up, we never skated. Fjords have tide, and the ice is not safe (even though I have been told about a winter 65 years ago, or so), but we had a couple of lakes with safe skating ice. I never had skates, and it was relatively far, so I never did any skating.So, last Sunday I defied the cold, sacrificed my afternoon reading a good book while drinking a nice mug of tea, indoors, in my lovely, warm lounge (so what if it never happens because situations occure; a girl can have dreams, right?) and went to the lake just a kilometre from our house.
The lake was swarmed with people of all ages: from young children learning to skate while pushing crates for support, to older men and women swirling across the ice with easy elegance.
We could hear the buzz and the outbursts of joyful laughter as we approached the rocky beach. Bonfires were lit to grill hotdogs and to provide some warmth to those getting too cold.
We had a wonderful time. Even though my kids are still learning they enjoyed it a lot! No complains and no sulking, which is rare when failing, they just kept on trying.
After some time my youngest kid felt the pain only untrained legs can feel. Since his older brother wanted to keep on skating, we took his skates off and played on the ice wearing boots.
A woman I know asked if her son could borrow the skates, as she had not bought him skates yet. I told her we were soon to head off home, but she promised to return them on her way home.
The look on her kid’s face, full of expectation, made me agree. It would have felt so totally wrong to deny him the experience, the fun, my own kid had had.
Her son was so eager and full of excitement as I helped him put on the skates, that my heart just burst with good will, pleased I did the right thing for this kid.
A couple of hours later, I was not so pleased anymore. She didn’t return the skates: she sent me a text telling me she had lent the skates on. I called her and asked who had them, and she told me she only knew the woman’s first name and didn’t know where she lived. I guess (hope) she was just captured by the moment of circumstances.
So, long story put short: I had to promise my 6-year old I would buy him new skates the next day. Yes, I did, against better knowledge.
In the first sports store I went to, the staff just snorted and gave a quick laugh when I asked if they had skates. They were sold out early Saturday morning. They even had to call in extra help to get the sales done within reasonable time and keep the queue moving.
In the second sports store I went to, I did find a skate the right size... but only the one. I told the clerk he had only single skates left, no pairs, and they were all different sizes or the same left foot (he was NOT pleased when he found out I was right).
In the third sports store I went to, they only had skates left costing a hole in the ground, and then some. I had no idea how expencive skates can be. Paying $1000,- for a pair of skates was really out of the question, no matter how disappointed my kid would get.
I tried all the sports stores in town, and then I went to all the toystores. No skates were to be found...
I was about to give up, feeling like the worst mum ever, when I suddenly remembered that the really big grocery stores have sports departments.
Time of miracles are not over yet: I found a pair.
I hate to disappoint my kids, I like to keep my promises, and it was I who had made the stupid mistake of “giving” the skates to someone I didn’t know too well.
Thing is... even when knowing what I know now, I am not so sure I would say no to lending someone the skates, if asked again.
