Nutcracker memories

Watching the "big girls" get on the ice yesterday after rehearsal, I was reminded of a nutcracker maybe 5 years ago. We had just finished a performance with the tots-- got them through their number and across the ice without incident, despite one little girl's fears and tears at the start. She got to the end, came off stage, stopped, and looked at me. "That was so much fun!" she exclaimed, really excited.

And turned around and skated right back out onto the ice to do it again, straight into the high freestyle group that was barreling full-speed onto the set. I will never forget the look of horror on the lead skater's face as I raced out to scoop the tot up and get her out of the way.

Good times.