Scotty Gomez, the first Hispanic hockey player to make it to the NHL, grew up in our new neighborhood. He and and his Dad started a foundation to support youth hockey in Anchorage and one of their first projects included the renovation of an outdoor rink in Takishla Park, a few blocks from our house. New boards, nets, lights, and daily plowing and hot-mopping.
So despite 15 inches of new snow, the ice was in perfect shape for a family skate yesterday, grandparents and all.
As I laced my skates, Elias asked, "Where are my skates?"
I held up my hands, wiggled my fingers towards his feet and said, "Abra-cad-abra, imaginary skates!"
"Imaginary skates!!!" Elias said with a smile.
"Where's my puck?" he asked, when Nick dumped a pile of pucks on the ice.
"Pick one."
And he walked up to the pucks, chose the one nearest him, and whacked it with his right cane. "I'm playing hockey!!!!" he said to no-one in particular. "Playing hockey!!!." And off he want, walking across the ice, staying on his feet, talking to himself, "Hockey, hockey hockey..."
Kathy and I took turns pushing Olive in the stroller and we soon discovered we needed to skate fast to keep her content, if we slowed even a little, or had the gall to stop, she'd protest.
(And as we all know, the girl can protest; and yes I did jinx us with my last post, as fussy Olive returned with a vengeance the next night, a tense ball of fury, refusing all our attempts to comfort, bringing me to tears again, but proving to me she really has improved, because her unrelenting outbursts surprised me, where less than a month ago, they were the norm, the eight O'clock bell, the witching hours, the evening ritual of misery and pain. Hers and ours. But we wanted this, we reminded each other, as we took turns feeling inadequate, our tiny baby defeating us with her screams.)
"Can I hit the puck against the boards?" Elias asked me, when I skated over to check on him.
"Sure."
"Boards, boards, boards," he said, as he swung and connected perfectly on his first try, the puck gliding into the boards.
"Can I use my canes to hit the puck?"
"Of course you can, they are like built-in hockey sticks."
"But I only use my left cane," he said.
"That's OK."
He thought for a moment and then looked towards me, "Sorry, I mean my right cane."
And something about this comment made me want to swoop down, hug him and say, "You're back!!! My quirky sweet little Elias, I'm so glad to have you back!!!!!"
But instead I just smiled and said, "Oh your right cane, that makes sense since you're right-handed."
"Do you have built-in hockey sticks?" he asked Kathy.
"No I don't." She replied, "Only you do."
"Lucky boy!" I said.
"Built-in hockey sticks!!!" he said and hit the puck again.
Happy Friday.
Wah-Hoo!! You caught a glimpse of Elias as the boy he's always been!! I knew he'd come back :) And remember, if he leaves again, he'll return again.
Posted by: Emily | 03/12/2010 at 04:33 PM
Wow, is he going to be the super hockey player- what fun! Sorry that Olivia is still raising her voice but you have progressed so far and you are better for it. One incredible boy learning his way and one darling girl demanding it! Watch out parents!!!
Please don't stop writing these blogs.
Happy Weekend- I so treasure your words and it brings it home so much when out of the blue- I am off to the hospital again with my precious husband with major heart problems. We were working out and BAM- but he is fine and if we were with you- he would be back on the ice tonight.
Posted by: Noel Dennehy | 03/12/2010 at 05:39 PM
Awesome. ALL of it. Even Olive protesting. BOTH of your children are showing the world they are forces to be reckoned with and not to be underestimated.
Posted by: niksmom | 03/12/2010 at 06:25 PM
Built in hockey sticks is GREAT! I love it.
Posted by: Jessica | 03/13/2010 at 11:50 AM
Wow! To think that a while back you wondered whether Elias would ever walk -- and here he is, walking on ice and hitting a puck with his cane, enjoying his own game of hockey. I so admire that little guy's spirit of adventure and your way of responding to his comments. He is a lucky kid!
Miss Olive is a darling. (Yes, I know that's easier to say when looking at a cute picture than when dealing with a crying spell!) Wonderful little girl.
Posted by: Linda | 03/13/2010 at 06:36 PM
I have to say that I don't think I could hit a hockey puck with a cane, especially on the first try! He's really got them mastered!
Posted by: Nicole | 03/15/2010 at 07:59 AM