Birthday, On Ice
Up until mid-week, Liz had thought my birthday was today (Saturday). And so – she had planned a ton of stuff for us to do.
Bonus for me, as I get to now extend my birthday day over two days. Three, technically, since tomorrow… I get to do the official celebration.
After driving back from brunch, we parked the car and hopped a bus downtown. Ice-skating was on the agenda for today, as it’s something I’ve not really done. I remember going a few times, and maybe once in the past 5 years… so it’s been a very long while.
This was a Liz-initiated activity, and not really something I myself would have picked out. I got invited to my fair share of rollerskating and ice-skating parties as a kid. But I don’t remember going out skating that much. I spent most of my time in the adjoining arcade, playing video games. I got pretty good at those, and not so good with the skating.
En route, one of the surprises that Liz had was a stop over at the Chicago Cultural Center. I had never been before, and the inside was pretty darn amazing.
I didn’t snap many pics, as I wanted to make it a point to come back and actively document and explore. There were a ton of exhibits and galleries that we didn’t go into, but that looked incredibly interesting.
Checking out some reflected images of Italy, taken by photographing the water.
Walking over to Millenium Park, I spotted a small hill of snow near the ice-skating rink. And there, on top of this mound were four teeny-tiny snowmen. This totally made my afternoon.
View of the skaters, prior to.
Donning a pair of skates. I’m fairly nervous at this point, since it’s dawning on me just how long it’s been that I’ve been on the ice. I’m also remembering that, on those few occasions when I was on the ice… I wasn’t all that good.
View of the balcony (and bean), from the ice.
Earlier, as I was slowly wobbling around, I heard someone yell “FELIX!” I looked up, and there was Ben leaning against the top railing, laughing and smiling and waving.
It was a silly moment and, trying to wave back and keep my balance at the same time… made a great afternoon that much greater.
I was a bit of a Grumpy Gus while we were on the ice, as I got frustrated a good deal. I got into a decent rhythm a few times, but on some occasions… I just wasn’t moving very well or very fluidly. At the onset, I was extremely focused and had to concentrate a lot (which was tiring).
I’m happy to report that I didn’t fall, and that I did get better over the course of the afternoon (albeit very, very slowly). I held on to Liz for most all of the time we were on the rink, but managed to go around at least once on my own.
I’m not the most adventurous guy in the world, and I like my routines and my patterns. Today took me out of my comfort zone a bit, and set me in a public setting with something I didn’t really know how to do.
I like the notion that, to stay young, once needs to be more childlike. And I’m all for being silly and for playing. But the one aspect of being childlike that is difficult to maintain (and oftentimes difficult to remember) is an opennes – a willingness to try new things, and an indifference to failure.
Today at the rink, skating made me very aware of myself… and also aware of all the things that made me such an adult (and a Grumpy Gus). Though I was frustrated at the start, by the end of our time at the rink… I felt much better, and was able to enjoy myself more.
I saw a good number of people out on the ice today. Some were really good at skating, some were really bad. Some folks were zipping around in circles, and some were barely moving at all. But the best part of it all?
Everyone was smiling and laughing. Me, along with them.
i JUST missed being in that photo of the bean. my sister is the woman that’s on the far left, partially cut off. I was standing just on the other side of her. Hey! Happy birthday!
ben (March 12, 2007 at 12:19 am)