Minnesota Sunday Night

(the more I read this, the more it seems like a series of exclusively Minnesota events)

Not my photo--didn't have my phone, you see!
Might've missed the moment if I had.

I left the house really early for my hockey practice last night because it'd snowed 3-4 inches since I'd last driven (typical) and I wasn't sure how long it'd take to clear my car. Took hardly any time at all because there was no ice, just fluff.

I didn't feel like going back in the house though because A my car was already starting to warm up and B my gear would've started to get cold. So I just headed to the rink and got there 40 minutes before my ice time. Problem: I didn't have my phone with me because I never take it to that rink since it's so close. What to do?!

What else but stand along the end glass behind the goalie and watch whoever's on the ice before you? I judged them at peewees (11 and 12 year olds), the local organization Highland Central against something with an M (there's like a billion "something with an M" but a teammate later identified this one as Mahtomedi).

I always intend to watch local hockey and never do, and I was super pleased to take this opportunity just to be there. It was fun to watch kids at this level skate--more graceful than my team, sure, but still awkward in some of their movements, not as smooth as they'll be in just another year or two. And not getting the puck off the ice on their shots 100% of the time, to which I can relate. Fairly competitive game, though, more time spent in one end but the team on offense was losing 0-2 so it was evenly matched. There was a HUGE crowd in the stands, and a dad walked past me and was super friendly with a big smile and a "hello!"

Mostly, I stood there and felt the feeling of being connected to this amazing thing of hockey enjoyed by so many across my state. I thought about where these kids come from and where they might go. I tried to pick up moves, and figure out their strategies and recognize things me and my teammates do. I enjoyed getting out of myself a little bit, and feeling a part of my community instead of home-rink-home and not truly interacting.

And I laughed to myself like "this must be how people killed time before smart phones at their fingertips."