Skating Rink Outing

                                                                                                       I made it through the worst of it, thankfully, and am feeling better just now-I’m actually in what could be called a decent frame of mind. To counterbalance some of the bad feelings of the past days,I wanted to do something  life-affirming, something active, so the other day, just a day after my breakdown, I took my daughters to the ice skating rink. I’m no good on skates- I can barely stand up decently, so I thoroughly admire those people who can make it all look so effortless.  There was a young woman there who showed an exceptional grace and was somehow full of the exuberant life and vitality that I have felt has been so lacking from my worldview of late. It all spoke of power, energy, life. It was like watching a ballet. Her quick, subtle movements, contrary to all I’ve been feeling lately, said that the world isn’t such a dead place at all; in fact to watch her- an artist at skating-you‘d swear that it were all somehow preternaturally alive. I painted it with a palette knife so it’s rather abstract, though I think it conveys what I want to say; that there is, and continues to be a hopeful lightness and life even in what has been lately a pained, bruised, dead winter.