Roller Skating
Heh… roller skates.
As a young'n middle of the last century, I tried on the skates that clamped on my PF Flyers. Once. Didn't go far. I think they didn't stay on well. And I'm fond of modes of transport that include brakes.
Fast forward to early this century, and I and the three kids all got in-line boots. I was surprised to find I mastered them immediately. Some experience water- and snow-skiing probably helped.
We enjoyed going to the park (in town, not on our country driveway) and skating around and around… until that day…
…there was a steep hill with a turn right at the bottom. I saw one kid zip down and, to my great surprise, zip around the turn like a pro.
Then a second kid zipped down, made the turn, and I heard a scream.
Dad, being an idiot, immediately headed down the hill, and about half-way down I realized I was unlikely to make that turn and was going too fast.
I threw myself off the path, trying to land on my butt with feet out front, but instead flipped over head-first and cracked my head on a rock. Only time I was ever glad I was wearing a helmet! I actually blanked out for a moment.
Third kid was at the top of the hill, certain he had just seen most of his family wiped out.
Fortunately, I was the only one injured. I walked down and found one kid delighted to have successfully made the turn, and the other, who had screamed, had merely fallen safely after turning.
I never went skating again.
Posted by: mindful webworker - rocker and roller skates at December 07, 2024,
as comments here and here on Ace of Spades ♠