Saturday, February 11, 2017

THESE SKATES WERE MADE FOR SKATIN

    I'll say it again, "I ice skate once a week." Skaters are a very supportive vigorous group. They know how o have fun. On Tues. after skating we have a Valentine's party!

    Some people skate with us for a few years and then disappear. Others like me skate year after year.

    Jerry is one of the solid characters. He skated for a while and then wintered in Australia and Arizona. When he stopped going south for winters, he came back skating. He is one strong beautiful skater. He loves to skate with partners to music. He's very graceful and strong.

   Now Jerry is one of the few people who skate with speed skates. We sometimes ask him why speed skates? He gets a twinkle in his eye. When Jerry was in his twenties he decided to buy a pair of skates. He ended up buying speed skates. We asked him why and he said he didn't know what he was doing.

   Now Jerry is 89 and still using his old skates. He says the skates are about 65 years old! He's had repairs made to the uppers and looks after the leather by keeping it polished. 

   so Jerry is an inspiration for all of us to keep skating. After all how can you let an 89 year show you up?

    Jerry and his friend Howard ready to hit the ice. Notice those old speed skates.


    

38 comments:

  1. Good for you for sticking with the skating. I'm sure you love it and the social interaction that comes with it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think all of need something that gives us support and satisfaction.

      Delete
  2. Jerry is an inspiration to us all!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. His life has been challenging and many ways but he remains positive.

      Delete
  3. I loved to skate when I was younger. There were a few elderly people who went to the same session and they could put me to shame even then. It's a great cardiovascular exercise and keeps the legs strong and gives one good balance. Good for you for keeping up with it, Red!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many people leave skating once they're adults. I left skating when my kids grew up and then started again once I retired.

      Delete
  4. It's so wonderful that you're all getting such good exercise and companionship with your skating. This is one more thing I tried and couldn't do. Nowadays it would be dangerous for me to try it since I have osteoporosis. Sigh...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You know what I'd really like to try? Yoga!

      Delete
  5. You Albertans! You're so crazy. Older people are meant to do all that they can to avoid falling over but there you guys are skating on unforgiving ice! All I can say is keep it up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This crazy Albertan cycles over a 1000 km per summer. The ground is hard too! But then I also lead a bird watch group every week.

      Delete
  6. What a wonderful life. Being able to skate and enjoy it at that age. Great example for us all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gerry is also a very strong skate for his size.

      Delete
  7. Incredible! What an inspiration. I haven't skated since I was a teenager (the only time when I loved anywhere near an ice rink) and I loved it although I wasn't very good at it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not a good skater either but I skate well enough to have fun.

      Delete
  8. Isn't that fun! Good for you. I was going to go for a winter walk, but the crusty snow is awful...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here there's been enough thawing for water to run on the sidewalk and freeze. That ends the walking.

      Delete
  9. Jerry at eighty-nine is an inspiration to us all to keep fit and active no matter what our age.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jerry is a very bright and well informed guy with a good sense of humor.

      Delete
  10. Oh my and to think I had to give up several hobbies at 75 due to vertigo...:(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vertigo is very miserable stuff. It certainly limits activities.

      Delete
  11. This was a very enjoyable read on those skates and the people who wear them. I think you are all an inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. I wish more people would get out and do challenging stuff.

      Delete
  12. I have never learned how to skate. I was watching some skaters from a local club earlier doing skating demos, which was fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, you're one of the few CAnadians who never skated but I'll never hold that against you. there's lots more to do than skate.

      Delete
  13. How wonderful!! Being a native Texan I don't know a lot about ice skating.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Texas has other opportunities that we don't. Our baseball season is short and as a result very little baseball is played here.

      Delete
  14. No wonder you stay so young. You have such an active lifestyle. I've never ice skated, but used to roller skate. You are an inspiration to me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey, my numbers are getting big! However, you might as well be in good condition and old rather than poor condition and old.

      Delete
  15. Jerry is definitely an inspiration! 89 and skating. Wow. Good for him. And with 65 year old skates, too. Amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nice to stay with the skating. I have swam more this winter.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I don't know how people skate with the new style. I only been able to do it with the classic four wheeled ones

    ReplyDelete
  18. Very good post Hiawatha!I also like skating.now all our waters and little pounds are soo thick we can skate..So that is just what I will doo too

    I think it doesnt matter about age..If you have fun doing it..you smile and all is very happy!

    ReplyDelete
  19. It is really great you are still skating, I don't dare it anymore, I am to wobbly on the ice.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow! Those skates are something else, Red. And I love the fact that he's still using the same old ones, probably enjoying them just as much today as he did when he first bought them. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  21. 89 and still skating that is wonderful! I had to give up skating in 1980 after a severe injury to my leg. I used to really enjoy skating:)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Red, Thanks to Hiawatha House and Wikipedia I now know the difference between speed skates, figure skates, and hockey skates. It sounds like Jerry is the man! Sounds like fun!

    ReplyDelete