I wasn’t sure how often I’d be able to post to this blog once the semester started. But to keep the entries fairly regular, I’ve come up with a plan.
After my mother died, I took a number of her sweaters. She was 4′ 11″ and I’m 5′ 1.25″ (and I am upset when the doctor’s office doesn’t register that quarter inch, I tell you) so they are a bit short for wearing to work. And there are quite a few of them.
Each week, I plan to wear one to the rink, have my picture taken in it, and post it to this blog. This will make sure that I put the sweaters to good use as well as vary my skating wardrobe. This has been black, black, occasional purple, and more black; I have one red sweater that I’ve been clinging to because it’s soft and the perfect weight, but it’s beginning to get holes in it.
The sweaters will keep me nice and warm, especially at Parade, which tends to be quite cold. Both rinks have just been renovated, but the smaller rink that I practice in for most of the season will still be chilly, especially in the Minnesota winters. So I will be able to think of my mother, who was always telling me to put on a sweater anyway.
I watched quite a bit of skating with my mother over the years. She especially liked Michelle Kwan. I remember sending her a copy of Skating magazine because there was a little article about Jim and myself (in the “Adult Corner”) and instead of praising my skating prowess, she told me how much she enjoyed reading the cover article, which of course was all about Michelle. I’m a longtime fan of Michelle Kwan as well, and was happy to be in the same magazine as her–so it’s all good.
Here’s Sonia and me in my mom’s sweater #1 in the newly renovated rink, ready for a new season of skating. (Thanks, Glen, for taking our picture.)
jo skates 