When I was a kid growing up in Algonac, Michigan, there were four seasons: basketball, baseball, football, and hockey.
I loved basketball. I lost interest in baseball. Grew to hate football. But I still love hockey!
My skates were a cheap brand from K-Mart. Don't get me wrong, they were good skates—just not Bauer-quality, for those who know hockey.
Every winter, when the St. Clair River froze in front of our house and the snow started piling up between the docks, we'd go out and shovel our own hockey rink. We weren't special. Back then, just about every kid in our area who lived along the river had a rink in their front yard.
As I drew these skates, I remembered all those games we played. Freezing my butt off. Trying to tighten my skates enough so my ankles wouldn't roll. Trying to wipe my nose while wearing massive hockey gloves. I guess K-Mart only sold one size back in the day.
It's funny. They say smell is one of the strongest triggers for memory.
For me, when I look at this drawing, the thing I remember—and can almost feel most—is my toes freezing.
When I was a kid growing up in Algonac, Michigan, there were four seasons: basketball, baseball, football, and hockey.
I loved basketball. I lost interest in baseball. Grew to hate football. But I still love hockey!
My skates were a cheap brand from K-Mart. Don't get me wrong, they were good skates—just not Bauer-quality, for those who know hockey.
Every winter, when the St. Clair River froze in front of our house and the snow started piling up between the docks, we'd go out and shovel our own hockey rink. We weren't special. Back then, just about every kid in our area who lived along the river had a rink in their front yard.
As I drew these skates, I remembered all those games we played. Freezing my butt off. Trying to tighten my skates enough so my ankles wouldn't roll. Trying to wipe my nose while wearing massive hockey gloves. I guess K-Mart only sold one size back in the day.
It's funny. They say smell is one of the strongest triggers for memory.
For me, when I look at this drawing, the thing I remember—and can almost feel most—is my toes freezing.
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