THE MEMOIRS OF SUMMER RAY

After getting my new ice skates – Riedell Silver Stars and new MK Professional Lite blades, I finally went back to the ice rink. This was after a five month break.

Back towards the end of April, it wasn’t looking good that I would be able to continue skating for health reasons. My strength from COVID was improving. But definitely not enough to keep me on the ice. The skates and blades that I had were very heavy. So, I finally made a last-ditch effort to stay on the ice. I downgraded to the next size. Which were the same type of skates I had, before I upgraded. It was very hard to admit that I was no longer at the skating level, or with the same level of endurance I had before COVID. In many ways, I felt like a failure. But because I loved the ice more than my depression, I ordered the new boots and blades. But the time off, also proved to be a good thing. For a few months, Cathy and I did off ice training.

Jason and I did a lot of walking, cross country around the Gettysburg Battlefield.

I made the decision to no longer take the medication because it was starting to do more harm than good. (PLEASE NOTE: The medication was used “off label” for COVID. It did work great at first. But when I started to get sick from it, under the care of my doctors, they agreed that I should stop taking it. PLEASE consult with your doctor before doing anything like that). But I am still healing. But I am definitely better than what I was six months ago. My first time back with the new boots and blades, proved what we suspected and that was that I could still skate. I was skating backwards, doing three turns, I did some power pulls and we worked a lot on balance. This was to just make sure my blades were mounted right. Of course, they were. Brian is a genius. They just need the permanent mount and I will be good to go. It wasn’t until about forty-five minutes on the ice that I started to get winded. But I couldn’t do any of those skills back in late April. It was ten minutes on the ice just struggling to get across the rink. I think Cathy wanted to cry as much as I did. It was very emotional, especially when I suddenly turned to do a three-turn. She got really choked up because she said I couldn’t do that skill before we took a break. Muscle memory is an amazing thing. My muscles remember the positions of the skills. But in new boots, muscles have to get used to the new feel of them. This does cause them to get very sore and cramp up. But it’s just until the boots are broken in. So, my last-ditch effort – “a desperate final attempt,” was a success. I knew that if those boots and blades did not work, my chance to be Summer’s skating double in the film were slim to none.

It really is the only thing I wanted to do in the pilot. But it was looking like that wasn’t going to happen. I was definitely on the losing end of skaters who could do that program. I just wasn’t physically able to. But in reading the bottom of the card, “Never give up! Dreams do come true,” I am reminded that even a last desperate attempt, can be the catalyst for those dreams to come true. I forgot that was even on there till I posted it. I know it will be hard work. But it’s been hard work. There were times when I just didn’t feel like pursuing that dream any longer. But because it was such a part of me, I couldn’t say, “No!” This weekend, I will further my fitness and get some hiking done. Sometimes, we need to just make the necessary adjustments and just go for it.

The 2nd book, I expect to be released in October.

Things may be taking longer than I had hoped, but the time in between publishing each book, is actually giving me the time to edit them again and just make sure that they are as polished on the inside, as they are on the outside! https://thememoirsofsummerray.com/the-summer-ray-books-authors-point-of-view/.

As always, thank you for being a part of our Summer Ray universe! Please don’t give up your dreams either. Maybe you just need to take that last-ditch effort too.

Till next time, Juliana!

Reference: www.dictionary.com