So my husband, an African, has just completed his second Canadian winter, and we are all very proud of him. applause
He’s never, ever been skating. We went curling once, so he’s been on ice, but curling ice isn’t at all the same thing as skating ice and I could never persuade him to come with me.
Now, once again, it’s rollerblading season, and for reasons not entirely clear to me we have inherited four pairs of rollerblades (yes, that’s eight altogether). I believe this is a sign of some sort. I have these delirous dreams of us blading along the lakeshore, gazing lovingliny into each other’s eyes …
Also he doesn’t bike nearly as fast as me, and he’s got a bus pass and I haven’t, so we need a better method of transportation that will get us to places at the same time.
Plus, it just looks fun.
He refuses to try it. He’s terrified of making an arse of himself. I can’t talk him into it. I’ve exhausted all the reasoning I can think of:
- he’s a naturally athletic guy, so I think he’ll pick it up pretty quickly
- it’s really pretty easy (assuming there’s nothing to hit, see below), stopping is the only real hard part
- I myself have not been on blades (ice or roller) for ten years or so, and I was never very good to begin with, so it’s not like I’ll be skating circles around him - I will probably look just as foolish as he does !
I think the problem was exacerbated when he tried them on, indoors, on our nice hardwood floors. Of course he flailed about like a fool, but that’s because there were a whole lot of things nearby to hit (or, more crucially, to avoid hitting). If he’d been in a wide-open space, he would have been fine. But now he won’t do it at all !
So, I’m searching for your words of advice (in helping me to rollerblade, and in helping me convince mr cowgirl to join me), and of encouragement (likewise!). Anecdotes welcome.