Roller-skating

As a teenager, I went occasionally roller-skating with my youth group to the Mutual Street Arena in Toronto. It was usually packed. The bouncers stopped people from going to fast, but they often were scraping unconscious people off the floor who had fallen and struck their heads.

When I moved to Kitchener, a few of us went during the week to Bingeman Park. Roller-skating was going out of fashion, so we had the place pretty much to ourselves.

It has been over twenty-five years since I last went roller-skating. I went tonight. I’m sure my muscles will feel it tomorrow, but it was great fun.

While I was going around the rink listening to the old songs from my era, I was thinking how people don’t go out very much to have fun any more.

Roller-skating was popular when I was younger. Bowling was another activity you could do. In the winter, there was ice-skating with hot chocolate after. We would also do things like get out a board game or cards.

These activities have some characteristics that seem contrary to what people do for fun in these times.

First, they involve going out with people or being around people of all ages. At the roller-skating young kids were cruising around the rink. We were probably the oldest, but in some ways were just as young as the others. Everybody joined in on the fun.

Second, the events are not centred on alcohol. While somebody may have a drink while he is playing cards, for example, it is not important. It’s funny that we preach drinking and driving responsibly, yet so many activities involve booze.

Third, roller-skating involves getting some exercise. Having had a hip replacement, the muscles in my hip certainly felt it, but it wasn’t painful. I feel invigorated and better for the experience right now.

We are trying roller-skating in our community every Friday night during the month of July. While tonight was the first time in over twenty-five years, I have the feeling that my next outing will be a lot sooner than that.