A Charmed Life

Not long ago, Irene said to me, "You promised me that you would take me ice skating someday and that time is finally here." While I imagine that I would have, left to my own devices, someday taken her ice skating, I will not pretend that I wasn't thrilled when she was invited to an ice skate birthday party. That was an instant "accept" on e-vite!

One of her favorite partners in crime was also invited; here they are freshly booted up - about 15 seconds after this picture was taken they both had to go potty.

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Her emotions became a bit mixed as she approached the moment of truth.

See those two purple dots in the distance? That's the girls doing the wall crawl. Now, I wasn't so cruel as to send them out alone on their first round. No, being the good sport that I am, I booted up and inched my way along the wall with them. We had made it about as far as they are in this picture when it was time to clear the rink for the Zamboni. Apparently, customers are expected to do this in a somewhat timely fashion. I sent them out alone for the second round as I never again want to be skated across the rink by a teenage mall worker in front of a packed house. Not ever.

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After I packed the camera, Irene amazed me - by going out on the ice and skating. She did well, even skating backwards. I'm glad she didn't let shame hold her back like I let it hold me back.