Roller Skates

Jan 11, 2019

My mom worked at a company called Globe Union, and one of their products was roller skates.
These were not leather boots with a wheel base attached to the bottom, not cool like a roller blade or hot like the kids today have with wheels actually imbedded into their sports shoes.
Ours were metal bases with metal wheels, adjustable to fit many different lengths and widths, sized with a twist of a metal key. Twist the screw by the toe and the grip tightened to grab the front of your shoe. Twist the screw under, and you can make your skates longer or shorter.
When Christmas came around, it was a good day if we got shiny new skates. With extra keys too, because those stupid things got lost all the time. We didn’t want a white Christmas because if sidewalks were clear you could skate while on Christmas vacation.
It was simple and healthy fun. The skates weighed more than shoes and the higher you lifted your feet to propel yourself the more exercise your legs got.
Sidewalk skating  also improved your mental awareness. Why you ask?
Because in order to really skate, you had to know and remember every bump, crack and shifting in the concrete walkway. If you were not on top of it or got distracted, your knees would pay the price.
Next time you see me, please don’t look at my knees.