[vonsmog]

I loved playing hockey as a kid and in high school. Was not good enough for D1 in college but was good enough to play D1 in soccer! Blew my ankle out and had to quit playing. Did everything else from skiing, mountain biking, windsurfing and such. After about a 10 year layoff of not skating my buddy convinced me to skate again. That was 20 years ago and I have not stopped! I have been playing men's league at the local rink ever since. I have noticed a drop off of my talent as the years have gone by. And a 50 years old I have been the old man on the team many a times. Started out in the B leagues and have dropped down to the C-D leagues as the years have gone by. Love to play, have not been hurt too bad, and the best part is I now get to play with my son who is 19! In the summer we play on the same team with about four other father/son pairs! It sure is a lot of fun, and the kids get a kick out making fun of us old farts! Most of us have been coach's since they were about 6 years old. Just before dropping my son off at college he asked if I plan on doing the ice rink again this year in the back yard? It is a lot of work and the kids had a ball though out the years on it. But it just won't be the same without the kids to skate on it. Rink is 145'x90' and with no help, I think this might be the last year. I would rather skate inside now than freezing my but off! I guess I am getting old!
And just this past summer I dusted off the mountain bike for some real trail riding again. Feels good to ride, but I think the trees are closer together now as I keep hitting them!