Figure Skating Lessons

I had no plan to take a figure skating lesson. I did not grow up ice skating, this was no resolution or childhood dream. I had heard tales of Philadelphia’s free skate lessons, friends who had brought their kids to learn to skate at one of the city’s rinks with lessons funded by the late Flyer’s chairman Ed Snider and his foundation. But friends, I did not know that adults were allowed to attend these lessons. I was delighted when my friend Jenn invited us to a skate lesson and said she was going to give it a try too. We drove to the north east, paid $5 a piece for our skate rentals, laced up and hobbled out on the ice. I did not know what to expect, the instructor had such confidence that we could do forward and backward swizzles, skate on one foot, spin around slowly on our toes. And somehow we could? We were wobbly and unsure but we did it! I was giddy. I had to control my giggles. It was so much fun. The pure unexpected joy of a 38 year old woman trying to learn to ice skate. Elliott also had a lot of fun and wanted to go back. Jason has an irrational fear of ice skating, but his favorite Brazilian restaurant is just blocks away, so maybe he’ll be lured by a grilled meat adventure post lesson. I think this is where you’ll find us this winter. There were different levels that you can move through, all ages gliding around learning to twirl. I need some more twirling in my life. Another mom friend was in the advanced group and talked about getting pants with butt pads on amazon. I hope this is what 2024 is like. More joy. More giddiness, tiny adventures, padded butts. Thank you Philadelphia Rec department! Thank you Snider Foundation. I love you.

Things worth sharing:

2024 also marks my first art show! I am so stoked. Again giddy. I made a couple paintings for the first time in a billion years. Most of my artwork is digital so it was so nice to bust out some paint and make some silly things. There is the nicest group of artists in my neighborhood corralled by Keith Greiman to show their work. It felt so nice to be asked! The show is this Saturday, January 13th 6-9pm at the Fairmount House. 206 Fairmount Ave.

I didn’t make any resolutions this year but I am rolling over ideas of delight. A list of things I think would be joyful.I want to plant a peanut plant, and go for a family bike ride along the Schuylkill river trail, have a pasta making day with Elliott etc. Do you have any delightful ideas we should try?

I bought myself this embroidery kit and had way too much fun making it. I finished it on a road trip to my aunt’s house. It took me 2 days and was wildly satisfying.

I watched the movie Air while recovering from my sialendoscopy procedure. It’s a dramatized story of Nike making the air Jordans and it was really fun to watch.

I bookmarked this cookie recipe and never got around to making them during the holidays, gonna add the ingredients to my grocery list.

I am currently reading a detective novel my friend Carrie wrote. It is a murder mystery wrapped up in the opioid epidemic based in our neighborhood and it is such a strange and specific experience to read fiction with landmarks you pass by regularly. You should read it especially if you’re one of my Philly friends. It’s called The Muralist.

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E-mail: halestormenator@gmail.com

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