Datebook: Wednesday, January 23rd ~ 2008

Today was just a practice day for us, so it should have been low-key and low stress.

It would have been if my daughter had not lost her jacket. By “lost” I mean she left it in the girl’s locker room at the Xcel Center. After completing some fine detective work—reminiscent of Peter Falk from Columbo (minus the cigar) the facts are that it was still on the bench last night after the last skater left the building (this from a volunteer who was checking the building for potential shuttle riders who was worried that a coat meant a person). It did not make its way to the lost and found of either the skating facilities or the Xcel Center.

I am considering running an ad in the local paper:

“Missing, xs blue team jacket. Last seen on a bench at the Xcel Center. Skater had too much in her hands (skate bag, clothing bag, dress bag, winter coat) and did not ask for help with carrying said items. Large Reward. Mother Grieving.”

I consoled myself by going to watch Senior CD Dance. This was a distraction for many reasons—the main one being it is hard to remain glum when listening to the Yankee Polka,

In a more reflective time I would ask where the Yankee Polka took birth—costuming would indicate the hills of Kentucky to the mountains of Nepal. My favorite color on the ice was that “Fab Blue” wore by Clare Farrell and Charlotte Maxwell—it was so vibrant it almost seemed to create its own dance. Lynn wore a second cousin color that was also striking and lively—the whole blue family hues captured the essence of the dance.

Emily and Evan are now in their element—senior level. It was a bit hard to actually “give them up” from junior, and I felt a bit like the mom of a departing freshman as I watched them take the first intro lap on the ice—You know they are prepared, and all packed, but you know you’ll miss them. They delivered a great “orientation” to Senior Dance with a 4th place finish and numbers in the 34.00s.

Tanith and Ben of course floated to first place and earned marks in the forties—raising the bar with OD-like scores for a CD.

Kim and Brent skated an incredible dance; huge pattern, deep edges, beautiful skills from beautiful people --and easily captured third.

Which brings us to the second place finishers. And I have a problem here. My daughter has asked me not to bring up Charlie White’s name because it makes it a bit awkward for her. She feels that my past reflections on this subject would put me in the classification of “freak” and that would render her a “freak” by her relationship to me,

“I can’t even talk to him now because he is probably thinking, “oh, this is the girl whose mother writes about me and conversations she has had with her friends about how cute I am.’”

“I think he knows that girls think he is cute, and I’m sure he is flattered by that.”

“But you can’t just say that, and have people read it.”

“Sweetheart I heard a whole new group of Novice girls swooning over him on Monday—just because he had complimented them on their dance. He is a real ambassador for the sport. And he is a gentleman—he let me on the bus ahead of him at the Xcel center.”

“He was probably just afraid to have you come up the stairs behind him.”

“I don’t know why you didn’t just offer him a seat when he got on the bus?”

“Maybe because he’s worried he should carry around some restraining orders—I think he would just like people to talk about how great he and Meryl skate.”

“Well, I thought the two subjects were connected—I mean I just heard you talking to….”

“MOM, just don’t say anything else about him—it’s embarrassing.”

So, I hope you’ll understand that in deference to my daughter’s wishes I can only say that Meryl and Charlie did get second in the CD today and they both skated great.

PS—if you see an XS Team USA jacket please take it the hotel desk for me…

Mombo