1961 Plane Crash a Part of Skating History

Although it was before I was born, the 1961 Flight 548 Crash of the Boeing 707 that carried most of the United States figure skating team was always a part of my skating life. That one moment changed the course of figure skating for many figure skaters around the world.

All 18 athletes of the 1961 team including Maribel Owen (9-time U.S. Ladies Champion) and her two daughters were just one of the significant skating families of that era. It was one of only a few times that the World Championships was cancelled.

Many of the now legendary champions of my time probably would not have went up the ranks of the skating world when they did. Peggy Fleming, Tim Wood, and coaches John Nicks and Carlo Fassi were just a fraction of skaters and coaches who along with the crash changed the course of the skating world.

The USFSA Memorial Fund was established only a few months later. This fund was started in honor of those that perished but the fund has helped to support the training of some of the most promising young skaters of the last 50 years.

I hope I am able to see the film that was made to celebrate and commemorate the anniversary. RISE was commissioned by the U.S. Figure Skating Association and is scheduled to be in select theatres for today only, February 17th.

Valentine's Day Sparks a Multitude of Memories

Another Valentine's Day has come and gone. The day itself was quiet this year. David and I did our celebrating on the weekend since he was leaving the day before the big day. One thing is true it is just not that day that we celebrate our love for each other, it should be done every day. There should be no holiday or excuse to bring a flower, card or anything special that tells your someone you love them and are happy to be with the person.

Over the course of the week leading up to the big day, stories sparked some memories for me. One such story was "Do you remember your first kiss?" When I first thought of it I thought of the first kiss I had gotten from a boy in school. Jimmy Crabtree was a boy in second grade. I remember he sat next to me and would sometimes sneak holding my hand occasionally and one day during an earthquake drill he gave me a peck on the check while we were under our desks in the assumed position for these drills.

Fast forward many, many years to when I met David. We had met while working and eventually had a real date after he came to one of my skating competitions. I was a pretty cheap date, we went to a chain restaurant and I remember I ordered a cup of soup and a sandwich. We spent some time talking during dinner getting to know each other and when he walked me to my car he asked me if he could kiss me (yes even in the early 80's the guy asked and didn't take it for granted). I remember thinking it was the most wonderful long kiss I had received to date; ok I admit the one from Jimmy and one other was the only kisses I had to compare but believe me I was impressed and I don't think my feet touched the ground the whole drive home.

Not only can a holiday or a kiss spark memories which forever stay etched in the heart. I admit sometimes earthquakes can spark some childhood memories.

Missouri Blizzard of 2011

As I posted on Facebook earlier, I am all for being a part of history making events, but this isn't what I had in mind.

For the past 36 hours all we have heard on the weather reports is that this could be the storm of our century. If you chat with people who are from where I live here in Missouri, some say they haven't seen anything like this since 1940's, 1969, 1982. Well those of us who are not born and raised here this is our first blizzard.

As I am posting this the snow is almost to the valves on the fire hydrant outside my window. My poor dogs are not real thrilled on having to suit up (yes they have little snow coats) and venture out to do their business. Earlier this morning they ventured to the base of the house where there wasn't any snow, but now with the wind blowing the snow every which way they will be lucky to make it two steps out the door.

I am wagering that I will be snowed until possibly until Friday. I know to those who live on the sunny west coast, you haven't a clue, those who live on the east coast think "hey this happens all the time to us, especially this year". I spoke with a client today from Toronto, Canada who really had an "oh well" attitude. But to be honest I think we are all sick of the wacky weather we have all been experiencing around the country.

Another one of my first thoughts today was "this must be what it is like to live in a snow globe". I have several in my skating memorabilia and I have a whole different perspective on them now.

My poor doggies want nothing to do with the outside world at this point. For one reason they are too small and might get lost in it.

Well I am sure this will be the storm that we will be talking about for years to come. I am seriously thinking about flying south for the winter in the future.