Pride
Pride swells as I look at the team, resplendent in their new costumes. I may not be on the ice, but part of me is.
My daughter is out there. The British Championship’s junior synchronized skating team, the highest level she can skate with. Pride in my daughter too.
The music swells; five, six, seven, eight, they’re off. The skirts swirl as they turn at the end of the ice, diamantés twinkling under the bright lights.
There are nineteen skaters on the ice; nineteen costumes I made. I may not be out there in person, but I have a presence.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleIf anyone is interested, Emily is the ultra slim one in the middle of the back row. She was one of the youngest in the team. Not long after this they skated in Rouen, France. She travelled to Holland a few times as a representative of Great Britain too as well as a couple of other pretty awesome experiences. I’m glad I have videos to remember.
You brought me into that situation, Carrie. I feel that I was there, watching them in their performance. It was a great job and a great story.
Thanks, Lotchie. It’s one of the things I miss now that she’s grown up and left home, except having to get up at 4 in the morning every Sunday because she had to be at the ice rink, 30 miles away in Sheffield, and ready to skate by 6 am. She was skating with the Nottingham Junior team when she did the Junior British Championships.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleYou’re welcome, Carrie. That was a mixed feeling of happiness and pride when you watch your child perform, Carrie. Such an awesome experience for you, and I understand how you miss it.
Lovely memory, Carrie! Three of my four were gymnasts so I remember well sitting in the stands watching their routines and feeling so proud. I also coached so was often on the floor with them and all the children made me feel very much part of it all. Thank you – I, like Lotchie, felt I was out there, too.
Thanks Sandra. I never realised how long 90 seconds was until my daughter was skating her solo programme in her first competition; my heart pounding, mouth dry. Terrifying!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleOh yes, I remember that clock moving in slow motion! And, holding my breath until it was over. My youngest son, Pip, coaches now and each one of the children is like one of his own so he relives it over and over 🙂
You certainly were present there, Carrie, with everything you did to help your daughter and her team with the preparations and the performance. And with your 100 words, you now have given your Voice-family an excellent insight in what it felt like for you. What a great and light-filled memory to share!
Thanks Christer. Yes, seeing the team out there on the ice and performing so beautifully made all the hours sat, freezing cold, in the ice rinks worth it. The photograph doesn’t really show just how lovely the dresses looked. They were made with five different fabrics, and had an ‘S’ shaped panel on the bodice that made it difficult to get right when there were so many different sizes to make. I… Read more »
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI love the end of the story. Indeed you have a presence. Nice write.
Thanks Thompson. It was always a great experience seeing the teams skate, quite exhilarating. I do miss those days.