Datebook: Monday, April 28th ~ 2008

Yesterday I scored major credibility points with my daughter.

“Mom, you’re the lead thread on FSU—you’re even ahead of Tanith and Ben relocating—that’s so crazy!”

It was a bit crazy. I mean, it was late Sunday afternoon and all the major department stores had closed so I couldn’t even buy new designer sunglasses in case the paparazzi were waiting for photo opts.

May is always the time I start to think of summer, then I move my thoughts to the need for the aforementioned new sunglasses and then my thoughts naturally shift to trying on new bathing suits. This falls into the painful but necessary category, so of course, my next branching off goes to the Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships.

I haven’t made hotel reservations yet.

We usually stay across the street at the Golden Arrow, or whatever name it is sporting this year. I never actually go down to the Mirror Lake but love looking at it each morning before the hairspray and flying Bobbie pins obscure the view of the mist rising upon the calm water.
This is typically the only calm of the week. For some reason, it seems even more stressful than Sectionals or Nationals. I didn’t quite understand this until last year.

Lake Placid is really the “Dress Rehearsal” of the season. This is true in every sense of the word. In most things in life the “Dress Rehearsal” is held the night before an event. It’s for little things—like saying your lines for the first time before a marriage ceremony, or knowing where to stand for a play preview. There is never any intention of making any “real” changes. No one would ever say, for example, “Oh no, that groom will never do—he has a weak chin and he sniffles his nose a bit too much—that will be annoying in about two years.” No one would ever say to the bride, “Oh dear, that dress is hideous—you look a bit like a stuffed turkey in that and the veil, well, it just looks like the cooking bag.”

I’d like to think people don’t say these things because there is still a thing called “Manners” in our universe—but I readily accept that perhaps it is just a time issue—Where can you get another groom in fourteen hours or another dress in half a day.

Lake Placid doesn’t have those restraints. Teams enter the competition feeling a bit like they are entering a Roman arena just before the lions are released.

The butterflies come not from actually skating in the competition but from the “feedback”.
“Feedback” comes from many sources. It comes from the judging critiques following each skating segment, and from numerous advisory groups, where each team is offered several “suggestions” to help their skating performances. These often conflict with each other: Try to connect more with the audience, they feel excluded; try to emote more to each other so the dance presents a story; smile; don’t smile; the costumes are baffling, we love the costumes!; we love the straight line; you could make the straight line more dynamic.

Regardless, we all know one thing. The return from Lake Placid means major changes. We’re lucky if we keep the same music, basic program, and costumes. By November, most teams have a whole new look and a totally reworked program.

Last year, before leaving for an event three weeks after Lake Placid, my daughter met the dressmaker at the train station four hours before we left for the event. Between the changes in costume, and in the programs, I didn’t recognize any of the work the summer had produced at Sectionals.

That’s why I haven’t made my hotel reservations yet. I wanted to suggest to Ann Greenthal to make Lake Placid a “Black Tie” event. By this, I mean a Black Leotard/ Black Skirt and Black Pants/Black Shirt competition. Then the teams could ask the judges and selected advisory committee “what they suggest” before they spend thousands on a costume that doesn’t pass the “rehearsal” run-through. Maybe parents could even make suggestions. Perhaps costume designers could sit in the audience and sketch ideas to present to teams. It is an amazing concept.

If this worked I could perhaps feel comfortable staying at the Mirror Lake Inn and splurging on things like Cloud 9 beds and hot stone massages.

It might then be possible on my budget to actually have a “vacation” at a skating competition.
Until I get an update, I’m holding off on the reservations.

Mombo