Margo à la Maude

We live one block from the Rideau Canal. One block from access to what used to be the world's longest skating rink, but was bumped aside by Winnipeg's river rink. The difference, of course, is that the Rideau Canal's skating surface is wide enough that stick-thin supermodels would not have to get out of each other's way when they met, like on Winnipeg's ice.

Anyway, it's too easy to make up excuses not to get on the Canal, but really, there is no excuse. It's beautiful, because it's the federal government that clears the ice, it's one of the few places in Ottawa that gets cleared during a snowstorm, and everyone is happy on the Canal. No one goes to the Canal to skate and sulk. It's all people who want to be there, even if only to eat a Beavertail.

And I wanted Margo to be there.

Beautiful day. Margo was having a blast being pulled in her sled, which would sway from side to side as I skated. And there were so many people to watch. She got that quiet brain-processing look watching others, because, to be honest, it does seem kind of odd to strap knives to our boots and glide on ice. They even rent old-fashioned sleighs to push kids or lawyers who don't have skates.

Margo also discovered ice. And I discovered that Margo's boots have ZERO ice-gripping capabilities. She fell. A few times. She didn't hurt herself, but you could see that brain-processing look the second time she fell, when she stayed sitting and looked down at the ice and pondered. Or maybe she was coming up with her sailor's mouth threats to the ice to stop mocking her. Oh, Margo... if you knew just how many expletives I've put in your mouth in a parental voice-over, your hair would turn white.

Fun times. She was babbling excitedly all the way home. And then she saw a dog, which was like the maraschino cherry on a sundae.

- Michel

Labels: events

This entry was posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 at 9:51 p.m.. You can skip to the end and leave a response.