The Rink

Willie O’Ree Place, Fredericton, NB, Canada

To me, ice rinks are holy places. I have spent 35+ years in and out of ice rinks. I have had some of the best times of my life with some of my best friends in ice rinks. I have spent amazing times with my children in ice rinks. I have learned about myself. I have learned life lessons. I have experienced the whole gamut of emotions.

Every time I walk into one, that all floods back. The first thing that gets you is the smell. Every rink smells the same – yet different. It’s the smell of the ice. The sound is next. Is it silent and hallow? Raucous and rumbling? Slightly humming?

Some are huge, modern and will hold the population of a small city. Some, tiny, old and freezing cold – literal ‘barns’. And everything in between. Each has its own magic.

I think about the number of people who have experienced these same things. In the same buildings. Over great spans of time. And for an instant we are all united.

Amen.

Silence

Not the kind where there’s no noise at all, but the kind when the only noise is what’s naturally occurring at that moment.

Pleasant snowshoe in the UNB Woodlot a few days ago. It was dusk/getting dark so the photos are a bit dark. I also find that the iPhone throws way more blue into any snow photos – it’s like it can’t figure out what to do with all the white. I tried color correcting them in Photoshop, but it just wasn’t working, so left them as is.

Water Works

Had the thought today that a good portion of my time deals with water management.

With regards to water I am at one point or another:

  • Trying to source and provide my family with copious amounts of clean and safe hot and cold versions of it;
  • Trying to prevent damage resulting from it going where I don’t want it or repairing damage resulting from it’s going where I’d rather it had not gone;
  • Recreating in it.

Today I was trying to keep it out of my garage.

New Breezeway Steps

The old steps from our breezeway into the house have always been difficult to traverse for humans and dogs. They were too short and abrupt and due to the height difference between the breezeway floor and the house, very tall.

So, fixed that this weekend. Went full Frank Lloyd Wright and cantilevered the top step/platform out to a bench. The kids would always sit right in the doorway to put their shoes on and then no one could go in or out. Maybe they won’t now. 50/50 chance.