microcosm on ice

So today we go skating. As a family. My wife, myself, and our 2 children. We're skating at a rink that has 2 separate rinks for skating; of which often times there are several activities going on. Today we had the usual public skate on the one side; and a junior hockey game on the other.

Ice skating is always interesting. You have many different types. Families, such as mine with little ones skittering about, sliding and falling. You have teenagers skating more fast than they are agile. Or more clumsy than they should go fast (talk about a multi-applicable reference to teenagers). Me, I'm trying to get my youngest to focus enough to get his skates on. He's almost three, and he is thrilled to be in the presence of any and all, and especially multiple stimuli.

My oldest at five, is equally excited and grows exponentially independent as the hours turn into days. Of course my lovely wife, who seems to live on FM radio, while I amble about on AM, tries to keep me focused on keeping the kids focused.

We make it to the ice. My youngest basically wobbles like that newborn moose or deer or whatever animal that happens to be newborn on the nature channel, and learns to walk within an hour, and is outrunning lions by dinnertime (lions).

So we skittle and wobble, and I hold my youngest while he feels his way around the ice. My oldest, takes off. More heart than technique. Determined, fearless, and social, she ambles about with the basic skills of skating, sans stopping (hope that makes the next lesson).

Teenagers. 4-5 scraggly looking shaggy kids, all arms and legs, going too fast in and out off various families, and figure skaters. The father in me thinks. Even slightly. Even close. And somebody is going down hard. Hard. Then I remember.........

A gangly kid, who was way cooler, way faster, than these teenagers. I remember a kid who could fly. Who could actually jump small children and trip senior citizens without even braking a sweat. Even impressing the European judges as he skated rapidly long hair flowing in the wind, while Duran Duran blared out of speakers and disco balls spun. Yes this kid was special. He made braces look cool, and pimples seem sexy. How soon we forget. I wonder how many dad's were inches from taking me down hard?

So intermission comes, and I step next door to watch a little hockey. Holy-shit. I'm there for like twenty seconds, and I see like four absolutely brutal, illegal hits. Parents standing around cheering stupidly, like parents do at any sporting event. Only in this one kids, on both teams are getting smashed. The referee, who I would find out later, is new, and for on the ice for his first time. I also find out that this is the highest league for like 15-16 year olds. Regardless. I saw four Roughing Penalties and six Slashing Penalties (names are self explanatory) in moments.

Parents are all jacked up, and screaming. Its bedlam. The referees, who I remarked to a friend of mine who coaches kids around this level, would eventually lose COMPLETE control of the game. I don't care what sport you referee, which I would never do. The second you lose control. You have a problem. I'm just glad no-one got hurt. Later I would hear parents in the lobby saying, "you should have decked him"...... etc. I want to vomit.

Later as I skate quietly behind my daughter who is too independent at this point to skate with me, as she determinedly works her way around the rink, little arms pumping, little helmet on her head. I feel such joy. Such pride. Just to watch my daughter happy. Independent. Happy. She is magic. I watch as she slides to ice. I Skate over and pick her up. I have both of her hands in mine. I skate backwards while she holds on. Slowly as I watch her smile. Then Faaaaaaaaassssst. I take off, and she laughs as I pull her around the ice she is wobbling and careening and laughing until finally she loses her balance and I catch her. She smiles. The prettiest, happiest, no front teeth smile ever. She is my joy. Meanwhile the offspring that only an hour ago was akin to a newborn on Animal Planet is indeed standing, and with the aid of a small crane, myself, my wife, or myself and my wife, gets around is doing remarkable for an almost three year old.

For a moment I am content. Truly happy. Then I remember, and this doesn't temper my mood, rather it strikes me ironic; as I realize that next door, kids are flying around whacking each other with sticks, while parents cheer, of all things, and referees stand lost with whistles.

It is a microcosm of our world, and frightens me to pull the Microscope back and analogously change the players of this vignette from ice to life. From play to war. From calm sky's and austere settings to smoke filled rooms resulting from inept impotent leadership.

So I will remember the beautiful smile and work towards better days.