Rolling On...

I took the girl and a couple of friends to the rollerskating rink yesterday.

Oh my...was that ever a blast from the past!!!

I seriously did not want to go. I had a headache and was just eh...not in the mood to get out and about, but the girl had put it on her list of things she wanted to do this summer and I thought to myself, "its her summer too..." I know that might sound very "she's spoiled-ish" but I really DID need to do something relational with her. She is so easy and I think it so important to fill the emotional tank when you can. I knew this would fit the bill with her. So I took a couple of tylenol, put on my eyeliner and off we went to Semeron Skateway.

Oh my...its like walking into a time warp. Roller Rinks never ever change do they. They smell the same, look the same, and sound the same. Its so totally "blue collar" but in the best way. The kids had a riot!

We started off in the skate room swapping out shoes for those big ole four wheel roller skates. After cries of "its not tight enough!!" I re-tied everyone and off they went.

I think what made me smile so much was that it totally brought back memories from my own childhood skating at Elm Skating rink. (Hey Elmhurst readers...is it still there??) We would take our annual elementary school Christmas party there...then graduated to junior high and senior high and had the option to do skating again at Christmas time. This of course in addition to any time our parents or friend's parents would take us. This was especially big for me during junior high.

Its all the same; the gross carpet, the shiny floor, the disco lights, the bathrooms with no doors, the snack bar with slushies and old hot dogs, the DJ that says things like, "Its time for the Hokey Pokey!!" and "if youre passing more than 5 people at a time, YOURE skating TOOO FAST!" , the loud retro music (I heard Mamma Mia, Im a Barbie Girl, Good Vibrations), couple skates, boys only skates, races by age... oh yes, it was a complete experience.

What cracked me up too was the fact that the same "types" of people can be found at the skating rink; the crotchety old woman with a cigarette taking money, the black and white referees blowing whistles and skating like pros, the bored teenage girl behind the food bar, the older man zooming flawlessly in and out of the kids, the poor kid who just cant let go of the railing...oh yes.. it was all there and I actually ended up enjoying myself a big watching the girl zoom around having a great time.

Of course in the car ride home, all I heard was, "When can we go again?!!" I suppose that is the ultimate mark of a good time, right?