Roller Rink Cha Cha!

When I was a kid all my cousins and sisters and I would pull on our coulottes and vintage t-shirts followed by our borrowed-from-our-brothers stripey tube socks, then grab our Strawberry Shortcake Roller Skates, and run down the cindered dirt roads to the Vernon School, where the dust and dirt gave way to the only spot of concrete in our little town. We would spend hours pretending to be the next roller disco diva and in true celebrity fashion we would rehearse routines full of amazing tricks like sliding underneath each other's legs and holding hands while spinning wildly on the 5'x5' piece of concrete heaven. After our one millionth run-through we'd settle down taking care not to let our bare legged skin touch the "Arizona hot" cement. We'd savor freshly picked "Indian Biscuits", and although our parents told us not to, we'd sneak a metallic tasting drink out the water faucet settled next to the schoolhouse.

We attended a roller rink birthday party and much to my surprise skating is no longer a solitary slab of concrete, in fact skating in public venues is no longer even permitted. Now we head down to roller skating rinks full of junior highers amped up on Red Bull and sugar, taking part in roller rink cha cha, girls only skate, and try-to-hit-the-slowest-adult-skater game! I was not at all surpised though, that my delightful daughter was a natural at roller skating and dare-deviled her way through awkward steps to full on skating and even jumping! Now if only I could remember all those routines and find my coulottes. . .