A friend asked me to go ice skating the other day and my exact response was "Hmm I think I know a…read morefun place... and no it's not central park and yes I haven't been there in about 26 year but trust me... oh wait a second, let me double check real quick if they're still open."
And still open they were! As soon as we walked in, it felt like I entered back into a time machine. All of my memories as a kid started flooded back... including my first time there for my brother's 10th birthday. I remember it like it was yesterday... As I took my first cautious step onto the ice and planted my foot down, one of my skates immediately slipped backwards and my head swiftly met the ice with a huge thud. My first thought was "Jared don't cry." But oh how I cried.
I vowed to myself and my parents that I would never try to skate again from that moment on. A few days later, feeling defeated, I had a sudden change of heart and made it my mission to master the art of skating. My loving parents heard me out and enrolled me in ice hockey lessons the very next weekend. I accredit my currently rusty yet pretty decent skills on the blades of fury (sorry, couldn't resist) to that one summer back back in '94, where I took lessons with kids 3-4 years my senior. Seriously, the science behind muscle memory, hours of skills training, and the central nervous system are so darn interesting!
Anyway, fast forward to last weekend, even though I wasn't fully decked out in hockey hear from head to toe like I was when I was 6 years old, for that entire afternoon I truly felt like a kid again. I'm talking hot chocolate, double layers of socks, and constant smiles for several hours on. Yes, that's right, I skated for nearly three hours despite my friend wanting to leave after 45 minutes, maybe one hour tops. I felt a little guilty buuut I paid, so I didn't feel too bad.
While I had no concept of money when I was a little kid, it sure seemed like the prices must have barely changed because for the two of us, I don't think I spent much more than forty five bucks (that's with snacks, skates and entry combined). Perhaps the whole place could use some updating, perhaps it doesn't shine as bright as it used it, perhaps I should have brought my own skates that are buried somewhere in my parents garage, but it's still just as fun as I remember.
Speaking of remembering, my knees and my back remembered the next morning just how old I actually am... but if last weekend taught me anything, it's that age is just a mentality and memories live forever!
I can't wait to come back and am seriously considering throwing my next birthday party with Iceland, because I really really love when things come full circle. Hey who knows, if I ever have kids of my own, and I hope I do, I'll definitely be bringing them here for ice skating and hockey lessons.