So we went down to Sharks Ice and found an instructor to learn how to skate.We've been back at least twice a week all month, getting better. Nova has found herself in love with skating. She jumped in much earlier than me, and is taking one-on-one skating lessons from a hockey player. She's be starting formal Hockey classes this coming Saturday with hopes of playing in the fall league.
I spent years on roller blades and playing pickup roller hockey, so I expected to find myself transitioning much easier to ice. Unfortunately the transfer hasn't been easy--my sciatica limits me to about 5 laps before I start losing control of my left foot. Unless I can make some breakthrough with back pain, I really don't know how far I can get with this. My doctor has already suggested (but not demanded) that I stop.
All of this culminated in our skating session on Sunday. Just a few days before I went against all logic and bought hockey gear so that I could play around with Ken and Nova on the ice. Somehow putting a stick back in my hands gave me the strength, or stupidity, to ignore the pain and keep playing. Finally when my body couldn't sustain it, I found that I could play goalie on my knees. So I was able to play through almost the entire 30 minutes.
When I hit the locker room my hands were trembling so badly I couldn't remove my gear. And I had enough endorphins in my blood that I was feeling no pain. I had no idea how much damage I was doing... but damn, that was fun.
Buying all that gear was probably pointless and stupid. But I simply cannot express how much I miss being able to be active, to play, to engage. There's no life on the couch or in the chair. Life is entering a corner leaned over, letting off the brakes as you open the throttle. Life is making a ridiculous spin attempting to catch a puck hurtling past, to toss it to your teammate. Life is being there, doing something where nothing else can possibly distract you.
