Winter and Ice Skating

Winter is not one of my favorite season. I grew up on a quiet fishing village where the sun is out most of the time and weather is nothing but tropical all year round. Growing up, I always get a Christmas card from relatives abroad that has a picture perfect snow covered gardens with small inviting chalets that has wood burning fireplaces. I always wonder what it feels like to be surrounded with snow. I over romanticized it till I have this picture on my head about winter wonderland.

Reality had set in when we first moved to New Jersey. I remember it was the middle of winter, about a couple of days before Christmas. My relatives greeted us in the airport waiting for us with bundles of winter gear. My first winter jacket was a dark brown that look like a varsity jacket. It was big for my size but I remember it was so bulky that I just didn't like how it felt. That year also had the biggest blizzard of the decade. I was excited to see that too much snow, well, till my parents told us to help clear the driveway. After a couple of days after winter wonderland had turned into slush and it was replaced with dirty snow. 

From then on my love affair with snow, winter and the cold weather were swept away. On winter season, I tend to hibernate. I only leave the house when its necessary and usually hide under the covers. After years of waiting for winter to pass through, I have learned to embrace it. I don't see Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve without the cold. Hubby introduced me to ice skating. As of now, I haven't tried skiing but one day we would make the trip to the mountains to try it at least once. It was 4 years ago since the first time I donned ice skates. Looking at kids sliding down the rink, it look like fun - and easy. 

One thing about ice is that it is very slippery. I am so concious of not falling on my backside that I forgot to have fun. I gave it another shot. A couple of hours later, I am sliding without holding on to the sides and bravely cross the rink all the while hubby was making circles around me. He is such a show off. I can easily kick his ass in swimming but this is his sport. And he made sure to make fun of me while I slide off like a turtle. The next day I woke up with sore muscles, my back is hurting and feeling off, something different. I found out I was pregnant. 

My first skates.

Fast forward to 4 years later, Madison is 2.5 years old. I thought of ice skating again. I bought myself and Maddie toddler skates, the one with double blades for balance. She wore the skates and was able to walk around with it, only not on the ice. Once on the rink, she didn't want to skate. We both agreed she was too young for it. I also learned that toddler skates rental were free on the ice rink. I decided to return her skates and kept mine. I intend to ice skate in the future.