My Favorite Spring Activity

 Originally Written Between 2013-2015                  

In 1955, I was in 5th grade and my parents started a new business in my hometown of Forest Lake, Minnesota. They built a roller rink and quote “ran the rink” unquote for 14 years before retiring.  I spent three hours each Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday evenings and three hours on Saturday afternoons skating – in addition to selling tickets and concessions, and teaching the little ones how to skate.  Adult night was on Thursday and private skating parties were reserved on Mondays and Tuesdays.  Skating was my life.  Our skate guard, Joe Sahlin, was a professional dance skater and taught me how to skate waltzes, fox trots, marches, two-steps, and many other dances. 

Every year, our house would be in a total uproar for four months while my mom would produce Skateland’s Coronation and Skating show – held on two consecutive evenings in May.  With a cast of over 150 skaters, ranging from toddlers to grandparents, she would sew costumes, choreograph routines and run the election to name just a few of the many duties she performed.  Dad was in charge of building the props for each of the skating acts; i.e., wooden guns for an army routine. 

Helping my mom and dad present this production each spring for 11 years was exciting for me.  Besides performing, my favorite “job” was choreographing the routines for the various skating acts – especially for the little three-and-four year olds – in their cute little cha-cha or bumble bee costumes.  

A King and Queen of Skateland contest was held each year in which skaters voted for their favorite candidates during normal skating sessions. It was beautiful to watch the ten king and ten queen candidates, dressed in suits and formal gowns, skating the Coronation Waltz under colored lights.   The King and Queen would then represent Skateland in Forest Lake’s 4th of July Parade and other events around town.

I was a founding member of The Rollerettes – a precision line of eight skaters.  We thought we were Minnesota’s version of the New York Rockettes.  We actually were very good and even made TV appearances on Channel 5’s afternoon Twin Cities’ show to advertise and show off our skating skills.  

And so, to me, Spring meant a whole lot of work but double that amount for the fun and enjoyment we had.  I miss those times.  But, thankfully, I have tons of pictures that bring back so many good memories.

 

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