- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
Twenty years ago this month my family and I attended my first ice show. It was Walt Disney on Ice (no idea of the title of the show, I don't even know if they had different tours going on at the same time back then), and I was turning four. My great aunt (we called her Auntie Marge) bought tickets for "the baby" to see an ice show, she secretly wanted to go see the guest star and was using me as an excuse to go see him.
I don't remember much about the show. I remember bouncing from seat to seat because I was bored. I remember not being impressed with the people in Disney character costumes spinning around. I remember that up to a point the most exciting part of the show was the Mickey Mouse flashlight we were given upon entrance. It was blue, Mickey's face was on top, the light was inside and spun, the light was also blue. I even remember the white on off button. I'm pretty sure to get the light to spin you had to do it yourself with a little wrist action.
I remember hearing the voice introducing some person by telling everyone that the lights were going out and we needed to turn on our flashlights so our next guest could see. Ok! I'm all about turning on and playing with my flashlight. And then the spotlight turned on and there was a guy sitting on a chair next to a small table with an old wooden radio playing some song.
It was Scott Hamilton and he was getting ready to skate his Georgia On My Mind program. I was mesmorised. There is only one skate that I remember that night, and I don't remember all of it. I wasn't even four yet! I remember him talking to a radio he'd turned off and the radio continued to talk back - which was super cool! - and I remember his backflip... and that's it. My dad tells a couple of humorous stories of me talking back to Scott during another sketch, I don't remember it at all.
I was hooked to the sport, through Scott, from that moment on. My aunt was excited because she figured I'd become a world class figure skater. One fall on my butt and I was done. I didn't want to try. I wouldn't put skates on for another 10 or so years... and I didn't fall, but I don't have the balance or paitence to do it, so I'm content to watch and daydream of what it must feel like.
My great aunt and I were best buds when I was little. We did everything together and we'd curl up and watch figure skating. Mainly we cheered for the US team... but those are memories I cherish.
She passed away in 1995, and I dropped the sport for a bit. Still watched all of the pro stuff, but not the competitions. Scott was in most of the shows and it was an easy way for me to still connect with those memories and remember my aunt. My parents would watch with me, but it wasn't the same.
Fastforward to 1999 and Scott Hamilton returned to Alaska and I begged, pleaded, threatened, and annoyed my parents until they said we could go and see the show. I got to see a show that was pure skating, no characters, no stupid sketches... also no flashlight (bummer!). It was a mini SOI in a way as it was the IMG cast. It was fantastic.
It not only renewed my obsession, but my dad's as well. I couldn't get enough of the sport... and that's how I stumbled on the world of message boards. Dad and I couldn't miss a minute of it on TV... and a few years later I got to go to my first US Nationals (2005)... and now I'm completely obsessed in ways I don't even think my aunt would have imagined.
I've met some fantastic friends through this. Some I consider my best/closest of friends. And I can't wait to see what the next 20 years bring!
I don't remember much about the show. I remember bouncing from seat to seat because I was bored. I remember not being impressed with the people in Disney character costumes spinning around. I remember that up to a point the most exciting part of the show was the Mickey Mouse flashlight we were given upon entrance. It was blue, Mickey's face was on top, the light was inside and spun, the light was also blue. I even remember the white on off button. I'm pretty sure to get the light to spin you had to do it yourself with a little wrist action.
I remember hearing the voice introducing some person by telling everyone that the lights were going out and we needed to turn on our flashlights so our next guest could see. Ok! I'm all about turning on and playing with my flashlight. And then the spotlight turned on and there was a guy sitting on a chair next to a small table with an old wooden radio playing some song.
It was Scott Hamilton and he was getting ready to skate his Georgia On My Mind program. I was mesmorised. There is only one skate that I remember that night, and I don't remember all of it. I wasn't even four yet! I remember him talking to a radio he'd turned off and the radio continued to talk back - which was super cool! - and I remember his backflip... and that's it. My dad tells a couple of humorous stories of me talking back to Scott during another sketch, I don't remember it at all.
I was hooked to the sport, through Scott, from that moment on. My aunt was excited because she figured I'd become a world class figure skater. One fall on my butt and I was done. I didn't want to try. I wouldn't put skates on for another 10 or so years... and I didn't fall, but I don't have the balance or paitence to do it, so I'm content to watch and daydream of what it must feel like.
My great aunt and I were best buds when I was little. We did everything together and we'd curl up and watch figure skating. Mainly we cheered for the US team... but those are memories I cherish.
She passed away in 1995, and I dropped the sport for a bit. Still watched all of the pro stuff, but not the competitions. Scott was in most of the shows and it was an easy way for me to still connect with those memories and remember my aunt. My parents would watch with me, but it wasn't the same.
Fastforward to 1999 and Scott Hamilton returned to Alaska and I begged, pleaded, threatened, and annoyed my parents until they said we could go and see the show. I got to see a show that was pure skating, no characters, no stupid sketches... also no flashlight (bummer!). It was a mini SOI in a way as it was the IMG cast. It was fantastic.
It not only renewed my obsession, but my dad's as well. I couldn't get enough of the sport... and that's how I stumbled on the world of message boards. Dad and I couldn't miss a minute of it on TV... and a few years later I got to go to my first US Nationals (2005)... and now I'm completely obsessed in ways I don't even think my aunt would have imagined.
I've met some fantastic friends through this. Some I consider my best/closest of friends. And I can't wait to see what the next 20 years bring!
arty:
