I recently went on a company team building ice skating outing at the iconic Bryant Park in New York City.
It was a beautiful thought and was much needed since we’re all gearing up for our busy season.
I talked a good game to my co workers. I used to skate every weekend! I could even do pirouettes and arabesque’s on the ice!
It’s true, way back when.
Close to 40 years after, turns out I couldn’t. It wasn’t like “riding a bike” like was mentioned when we were swapping past winter sports stories.
I struggled to even walk in those skates seconds after lacing them up.
I held a brave face and went out on the rink with them and quite a few others.
The minute I hit the ice, fear was flowing through me.
I had to fight sheer panic in these rented shoes with deadly blades on the bottom of them.
I held onto the rail with both hands and slowly moved myself along.
Along the way, I met these two women who were speaking Spanish under duress. I could understand a few words.
One was clutching that rail with one hand while the other who had locked elbows with her friend encouraged her but was clearly as terrified as she struggled to stay upright.
After a lap around the rink, I decided I could take one hand off and balance as I glided forward.
They stopped and gave me an apologetic “you can go ahead of us” gesture.
They clearly thought I was a more confident skater then I was, but no. I definitely wasn’t.
They gestured a second time and both pressed themselves up against the rail.
I tapped the rail holder on the shoulder and offered my elbow.
She looked at her friend and shrugged “why not?”
I held the rail and we all linked arms.
We were to be three scared women on the ice but with unconditional support. Holding each other up.
We moved slowly , but just a bit faster than before and we actually enjoyed ourselves because we knew we probably wouldn’t fall.
And if we did one of us would be close enough to the rail to grip it and there was an unspoken understanding that we’d help each other up before some wild human animal ran over our fingers cutting them off with those aforementioned deadly blades.
Didn’t get your names but thank you my ice skating Queens! Thank you for being as afraid as I was, recognizing it, acknowledging it and taking my arm!
We had an acceptable time!
Because we held each other up!