Another Year Older

I'm one year closer to forty.  In fact, counting each day as one step closer, I have a mere 364 more steps until I stand on the big 4-0.

It was a time of reflection for me as I celebrated my 39th birthday at the local park.  I thought about all the years I've skated.  I thought about all the people I've met, the spots I've had the pleasure of hitting, and all the joy and joyous frustration skateboarding has given me.

As a teen, skateboarding gave me a place to focus my energy and aggression. My family moved from Nebraska to Oklahoma to Arkansas (to yet another town in Arkansas) within three years.  In each town I turned to my skateboard.  My skateboard was my best friend, and my gateway to new friends.

As the years passed by, I thought of quitting.  I tried other sports from cycling to martial arts. No other activity could reach my soul the way skating did.  Why would I give that up?

As an adult, skateboarding has continued to be a focus for me.  Getting divorced?  I'm going for a skate.  Broke?  Going skating.  Lonely?  Yep, I'm gonna skate.  I'm going to hop on my board, and lose every single problem in my life for a couple hours on this thing other people think is a toy.  Other than my family, skateboards and the act of riding a skateboard has been the constant in my life.

Don't try to tell me I'm too old, and that a skateboard is a toy.  This piece of wood, metal and urethane has kept me from getting old.  It has reached down to the core of who I am and touched my soul.

Thank you, skateboarding.

To my distance skating friends, look for distance skating to become a topic on here once again.  I've felt the need for a good 20 mile ride again.