Ice Skating in the Public

Ice Skating in the Public
by Kathern G. Lawrence




On the first day of January, 2011, some activity-loving people chose to skate at Kay Centre rather than watching TV programs or surfing at their computers. Public skating was open as a free gift from the city. They were from all walks of life, but no way I could tell which profession they took as they dressed casually in warm clothing. The people, ranging in ages between preschool age and 70 plus, skated around the oval board while they were listening to beats of musical play. The graceful old skater, possibly called grandpa, giggled watching his little boy in a helmet tightened below his chin, swagging with his arms held upward for control and balance as he aggressively skated short steps. The tall father skated backward, coaching his little son to skate forward properly.  The little ones skated clumsily and slowly while others were speeding around past them.They were focusing on skating pleasure, skating workout, skating development and coordination. They stopped at the board occassionally to catch some breath, watching each person passing by.




 My friends (Irv Mac Donald, Jude Mills, Andrew and Christine Brown, Son Daniel) and I joined the crowd for fun. Daniel Brown, six-year-old and hearing, had just learned to skate. He wobbled and fell without getting hurt as he skated along. He stayed closely along the board or with his parents for support. This was Irv's and my second skating trip; we had skated at Moncton Colesium where the parents snapped their little children standing in their skates boldly or shyly beside Santa.




<><> <><> <><>

Keep on skating -
Irv Mac Donald

In the eyes of the public, we were invisible as Deaf persons; they would never have guessed that we were Deaf. Once we chatted with fluttering hands, we became visible to them. We sign, and this is our visual language we use to communicate among our Deaf friends. One or two persons would probably have looked at us with their own thoughts, "Oh, they are deaf, and they cannot speak. We would never know that if they had not signed." Among the hearing people, we enjoyed the workout in our silent world as much as they did with the music on.


<><> <><> <><>

The Brown family's skating fun -
Daniel, Andrew, Christine

<><> <><> <><>

<><> <><> <><>

Jude Mills borrowing his son's skates