Everything Was Perfect!
by Robert Meagher on 03/02/16
In late December I treated myself to a skating adventure on
an outdoor rink in front of Ottawa City Hall. Our Municipal Government
maintains an outdoor skating rink from the beginning of December to mid-March
(weather permitting). Even though the weather had been unseasonably warm in
Ottawa in December, the ice making and maintenance technology allowed the rink
to stay open from 6am – 11pm each and every day, unless it is raining and/or
the temperature rose above 10oC.
It was a mere 0oC (again, unseasonably warm for
this time of year in Ottawa), no wind, the sky was clear, the stars were
twinkling and the moon was a glow. I walked a couple of blocks to the rink,
through trees and shrubs adorned with Christmas lights. As I rounded the corner
of City Hall, to the front of the building where the rink was located, I was
greeted with a glowing, neo-light flashing skating rink that was already being
enjoyed by dozens of other happy and joyous skaters. I smiled at the scene.
I headed for the heated (yes…heated!) changing hut where I
was able to lace up my skates in warmth and comfort. After getting myself all
ready for my skating odyssey, I made my way to the skating oval. I stepped on
to the smooth and beautifully-prepared ice surface and began to glide my way
around the rink.
The park where the skating rink was located was adorned with
small and large trees that were decorated in the yuletide tradition. Across a
street was another park that had an even more elaborate and impressive display
of Christmas lights, as part of an annual tradition of “Lights Across Canada.”
There was Christmas music piped over loud speakers. There was even the
wonderful and intoxicating aroma of Beavertails brewing at a concession stand
beside the rink. (Beavertails are flattened, donut-like delights that are
glazed or smothered in a variety of delectable toppings.)
Thirty-or-so other skaters were enjoying the experience with
me. We were all gliding around this wonderful outdoor facility—the ice surface,
the lights, the seasonal decoration, the Christmas carols, the smell of
delightful delicacies wafting through the air, the moonlight…—it was all
perfect!
I looked around at the wonder of it all. There were people
of all ages, races, males and females, everyone smiling, laughing, and enjoying
themselves. There were kids racing around the rink. There were people trying to
skate for the first time. There were seasoned skaters, and those who were
spinning their way around the rink in a graceful and effortless way. None of it
mattered—whether young, old, male, female, novice, accomplished, or
professional—everyone was joining with the other in a wonderful outdoor
celebration.
As I inhaled the wonder of it all, I thought… “What would
life be like if I could live in this wonder at all times? How could I extend
this vision to envelop every aspect of my life?”
What do you think?
