Skating through life

There are a few things in this life that are certain, but if it's Wednesday morning, one thing is for sure: a group of area seniors is skating through life at Edgewood Skate Arena.

Among them are Mary Frances Miller, of Lima, and Gladys Kill, of Spencerville. Both are 80 years old and coast along just fine to the music of the rink. They join their fellow adult skaters in the weekly adventure, but are quick to point out there is always room for more.

"Everyone is welcome here. You don't have to be 80," Miller said, laughing.

But you do have to enjoy life. And evidently the skating helps that happen.

"We've made good friends through this. We're just like family," Kill said.

The eldest of the current skaters is 82 years of age. Betty Ray, owner of the rink, said that the oldest skater she's ever had on the wooden floor was 92 years young.

The Wednesday morning skate time averages 20 people per skate.

"I've been skating since I was a young girl. I've skated here for 30 years, and before that I skated at the Skylight," Kill said.

Miller has been skating a long time too. "My first skates were for outside. We used to skate on the sidewalks.

"In fact, one of the only spankings I ever remember getting was for skating. I grew up in Chicago, and I can remember borrowing my cousin's skates when they were out of town, and skating out in the street. My grandmother found me, and spanked me for skating on the streets, and even more so, for borrowing their skates."

Both women laugh as they share stories of their early skating escapades.

"Betty taught me how to ‘shoot the duck'," Kill said, offering a quick demonstration of form. "Of course, I don't do that anymore, but I used to demonstrate that for Betty. I don't do those tricks any more," she said, chuckling.

But she does still enjoy the skating.

"I like to skate to a variety of music, but I can't do it like I used to. I've slowed down quite a bit," Kill said.

Her husband has skated with her for years, but some sore muscles and a broken bone has slowed his skating outings. "He still joins me at the rink, but sometimes he'll just sit and enjoy the music," Kill said.

Miller jokes "he's here for the meals."

It's true, the group normally follows their two hours of weekly skating with a lunch somewhere. "We follow the good exercise with good company," Miller said.

Kill agrees, adding "we've made good friends at the rink, and we're all like family for one another."

But this is one family that moves.

According to Ray, 16 laps near the center of the rink is equivalent to 1 mile. "But if you skate toward the outside of the rink, that's even farther," Miller is quick to point out.

The skaters have found, over the years, that few of them actually count their laps. Instead, they listen to the music and glide to the sounds.

"Time sure does fly when I'm skating," Miller said.

This crowd is a testament that round and round the rink with friends is a graceful way to stay young at heart.

And that's for certain.

Kim Kincaid writes about the big and little things that involve area residents. If you have an item of interest, e-mail her at newsroom@limanews.com.