Just Ice It!

I think my arms might just fall off, right about…now.

Mmm, Ice Hockey!  I’ve missed it. 

Wait, wait, wait.  Back up you say?  Ice hockey and the arms?

Yeah.  You heard right.

I’ve been getting new visitors on my blog and making some new friends, so I think it might be time to spill a little secret.  Well, it’s not that big of a secret.  But if you don’t know me in the real world, you definitely wouldn’t know it unless I told you. 

I have Cerebral Palsy.  It’s mild.  No worries.

It affects my legs and walking.  Just a little.  I walk with a limp and sometimes I have slight balance issues.  So don’t ram into me or push or shove…I will be on the floor in no time.  ;-)  (It’s pretty funny when that happens!)

I hate the phrase, “I can’t.”  Well, yeah ya can!  Duhhh!  Life is interesting with CP.  Always funny.  Usually wacky.  But not all that bad when it really comes down to it.  There is nothing I can’t do.  It’s all about finding different ways to do things.

I wanted to try something completely out of my comfort zone.  I grew up a swimmer, swam in disability meets up to the national level, and even came somewhat close to qualifying for the Athens Paralympics in 04.  But school got busy…and not to get back to that topic…but the issues between my Birthmom and my Mom at the time were at their worst.  It just didn’t happen.  I was too emotionally and physically drained to continue.  I sort of regret it now.  I swam in high school and kept up pretty well with the others.  I definitely wasn’t the star of the team, but I worked hard.  To keep up, I would have to sprint all the sets.  It was a lot for me. 

College started.  I fell into devoting my time to church stuff and homework, plus a couple part time jobs.  And I kinda…let myself go.  As someone with a disability, this is a big “no no,” just because my body already has a lot going against it.  I really have to do my best to keep myself together as long as I can. 

So I took up ice hockey.  But not the ice hockey you’re thinking of.  Sled hockey.  We play on sleds, but not like sleds for the snow.  These sleds have a seat with a back and blades underneath the sled.  We wear all the regular gear…helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, shin pads.  Our two sticks are shortened, with picks on the end that dig into the ice.  We use the sticks to propel ourselves and to shoot the puck.  It is one of the most physically demanding things I have ever done.  It is not easy and honestly, really insane.  There is checking.  Tons of it.  We play by the same rules USA Hockey puts out.  We are rough, fearless and hardcore.

And I play with the boys. 

Tonight at the rink, the girl at the front desk said she would give me my own locker room because the one they had reserved for sled hockey had all boys.  And I had to tell her it was totally okay.  I am used to this by now.  I am the only girl.

But you know what’s fun?  Messing up the guys and listening to them make fun of each other when their perfect shot gets destroyed by a girl.  Now, I’m really not all that good at this point.  I just started playing in January.  I’ve picked it up pretty well, but my main problem is speed.  I’m just not strong enough yet to keep up with how fast they can get.  So what’s second best if you can’t always get to the puck first?

Run your sled right into them.  MWAHAHAHA.  

I play with a wide range of kids.  Most are only slightly younger than me…like in high school.  Some are my age.  Some are really young.  I don’t really care.  I just think it’s fun and a great source of exersize!

And the conversation that goes on at these events…games, practices, in the locker rooms, is honestly hysterical.  It’s like we have our own “disability culture” or something.  Believe me, I’m pretty secure in myself, but sometimes you just have to learn to laugh at yourself.  I do, anyway. 

Like tonight, we played a game and it wasn’t a formal thing so we all had different jerseys on.  So I asked this guy Mike who exactly was on our team.  He said “Dan” and I said “Who’s that?” 

“The kid with no legs.”  That was his answer!  I just had to giggle.

We got team jackets and pants today and new bags on wheels!  (This is awesome since I usually drive to practices and games on my own.  Carrying my sled and bag is a project without being able to wheel it.  Now I can!)       

There’s open hockey again on Sunday morning which I plan to go to before church. 

For now, I am going to attempt to desmellify my brand new hockey bag.  Shower because I reak of the hockey rink.  And sleep because my arms are killing me.

Life is so good.