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Roller boogie
Dec. 7th, 2003 07:58 pmSometimes life hits you with a soundtrack that is so consistently on-target that it nearly proves the existence of a benevolent God who wants to be Steven Spielberg when he grows up.
Today was Abbey's roller-skating 7th birthday party at the Fun Spot (née Skateland). Those of you without children may recall fun birthday parties from your own youth, but it's likely that you do not remember them from your parents' point of view. These things are Excedrin moments in the making by definition, since as the lucky parent you're basically trying to run crowd control on (in this case) 14 invitied guests under the age of nine, hopped up on soft drinks and careening about with wheels strapped to their feet. So when we arrived 15 minutes early, I sat with a pang of apprehension, wondering if this was going to kill me.
At that moment, over the speakers, Gloria Gaynor sang, "Oh, no, not I...I will survive..."
Well, the crowd turned out to be much smaller than the preliminary guest list because of the still-at-that-time-falling deluge of snow. In the end we had four kids show up besides Abbey, but Abbey found that just ducky. After all, she had pizza and presents and quarters for the Skee-Ball games and a Finding Nemo cake that she didn't eat and the dreaded Party Machine (don't ask), so she was totally set even before the roller skating began. But begin it did. And here's where I proved just how much loss of brain mass I've experienced in recent years: I strapped the skates on myself. This is something I haven't done since I wasn't much older than Abbey, and frankly, I sucked at it even back then. But I put on my game face, and pushed off onto the hardwood.
At that moment, over the speakers, Chumbawumba sang, "I get knocked down, but I get up again..."
I only fell twice, but I tensed up so badly that I now need to be trampled by six trained chiropractors and a pack mule just to get my spine working again. It was so worth it, though, because Kristi strapped hers on as well. Skateland, y'see, was the rink Kristi went to all the time as a girl, even taking lessons for a time. I always adore seeing a new facet of her personality, of her history, that I'd never seen before. She skated utterly effortlessly, not a care in the world. And at one point, when she and I were skating together, we caught up with Abbey, And Kristi took her hands and slid in front of her to make a train, with Abbey the caboose to her mother's engine, both beaming with the same lovely smile.
At that moment, over the speakers, Fountains of Wayne sang, "Stacy's mom has got it going on..."
We were there for 2 1/2 long hours, but we all had a grand time. It took a bit of effort to drag Abbey off the rink when it was time to go, but we were all tired and satisfied and grinning like monkeys when we walked out the door.
At that moment, over the speakers, Young MC said, "Don't just stand there; bust a move..."
A good day. My compliments to the DJ.
Today was Abbey's roller-skating 7th birthday party at the Fun Spot (née Skateland). Those of you without children may recall fun birthday parties from your own youth, but it's likely that you do not remember them from your parents' point of view. These things are Excedrin moments in the making by definition, since as the lucky parent you're basically trying to run crowd control on (in this case) 14 invitied guests under the age of nine, hopped up on soft drinks and careening about with wheels strapped to their feet. So when we arrived 15 minutes early, I sat with a pang of apprehension, wondering if this was going to kill me.
At that moment, over the speakers, Gloria Gaynor sang, "Oh, no, not I...I will survive..."
Well, the crowd turned out to be much smaller than the preliminary guest list because of the still-at-that-time-falling deluge of snow. In the end we had four kids show up besides Abbey, but Abbey found that just ducky. After all, she had pizza and presents and quarters for the Skee-Ball games and a Finding Nemo cake that she didn't eat and the dreaded Party Machine (don't ask), so she was totally set even before the roller skating began. But begin it did. And here's where I proved just how much loss of brain mass I've experienced in recent years: I strapped the skates on myself. This is something I haven't done since I wasn't much older than Abbey, and frankly, I sucked at it even back then. But I put on my game face, and pushed off onto the hardwood.
At that moment, over the speakers, Chumbawumba sang, "I get knocked down, but I get up again..."
I only fell twice, but I tensed up so badly that I now need to be trampled by six trained chiropractors and a pack mule just to get my spine working again. It was so worth it, though, because Kristi strapped hers on as well. Skateland, y'see, was the rink Kristi went to all the time as a girl, even taking lessons for a time. I always adore seeing a new facet of her personality, of her history, that I'd never seen before. She skated utterly effortlessly, not a care in the world. And at one point, when she and I were skating together, we caught up with Abbey, And Kristi took her hands and slid in front of her to make a train, with Abbey the caboose to her mother's engine, both beaming with the same lovely smile.
At that moment, over the speakers, Fountains of Wayne sang, "Stacy's mom has got it going on..."
We were there for 2 1/2 long hours, but we all had a grand time. It took a bit of effort to drag Abbey off the rink when it was time to go, but we were all tired and satisfied and grinning like monkeys when we walked out the door.
At that moment, over the speakers, Young MC said, "Don't just stand there; bust a move..."
A good day. My compliments to the DJ.
