Roller Skating

Last night I went roller skating. Yes, roller skating. Tyler's school had the rink from 7-8pm so I went along. Wow...I haven't been on roller skates in a lot of years! And although it was fun it was hard to dodge all the kids who didn't seem to want to go in the right direction. But maybe I was a little leary because they are closer to the ground that I am and don't have as far to fall! I noticed the floor was a different kind than when I used to skate. It was a "softer" floor that I'm sure is meant to cushion someone's fall. But I found myself wondering if the people who invented it really tried it out. Because I can tell you...it's not much different that falling on the OLD floor! You still hit the ground with the same force when your skates are knocked out from under you. And this softer, "faller-friendly" floor is not much help. But I only fell once. Thank you, Lord, for that! I was skating around minding my own business when I saw him. A kid who was gingerly making his way from the middle of the rink backwards towards the opening to get out. We were on a course to collide when our eyes met. In his I saw death and fear so I'm not sure he even saw the panic in my eyes! As I jerkily moved left to avoid him he jerkily moved right to avoid me and BAM! I tried to grab him and take him with me to keep us both up but by this time he is panicking and flailing and I end up going down. I look up and see him staring down at me (no, he didn't fall) and I ask "you okay, dude?". He just nodded and skated off...leaving me to nurse my pride. Of course this all had to happen at the end of the rink with the snack bar and the tables and the DJ. It couldn't have happened at the other deserted end of the rink. Oh well, hopefully someone (his mother maybe) saw me attempting to be heroic and not kill her son...but probably not.